Moving to a new country is a logistics problem. Staying is something else entirely. Once the residence permit is sorted and the boxes are unpacked, a quieter question takes over: will this ever feel like home?
On 6 October, members of theFEMfounders gathered a room full of people who had answered that question by staying. They arrived in Luxembourg, started over, and chose to build both a life and a business here. The occasion was a live podcast event, Building a Life in Luxembourg, hosted by Seeds for a Better World ASBL. (Event details)
Five Paths, One Question
The panel did not offer polished success stories. It offered raw honesty about what starting from scratch really involves, led by speakers who turned their own settling-in frictions into impactful ventures:
Henry Fernández & Cesar Fernández: After arriving in Luxembourg from Honduras to pursue master's degrees, they experienced the settling-in struggle firsthand. That friction fueled MooveMe, their platform helping companies, universities, and relocation agencies support international employees and students as they find their footing.
Sara Cantelar Coello is the founder of Sense Living, a proptech start-up that brings digital services, a sense of community and a welcoming layer to residential and flexible-living buildings. Her work is built on a simple idea: where you live shapes whether you feel you belong.
Angelique Ziganek arrived in 2021 as a “trailing spouse,” without really understanding what that role would mean. She now works with expat women, and she writes openly about the parts of expat life that rarely make the brochure.
The Moment That Stayed With Us
Partway through the evening, the room watched videos of children opening care packages sent through Seeds for a Better World ASBL. Founded in March 2026, the Luxembourg-based association has a clear mission: ensuring access to quality education for children in rural Colombia, beginning in the Cundinamarca region.
For many in the audience coming from places where access to education can never be taken for granted, the videos were deeply personal. Watching host María Lucia Romero-Grother and the organization work to open educational doors for these children, people in the room began giving right on the spot.
It was the evening’s quiet proof of the core theme: people who have rebuilt their own lives from scratch recognize the value of a fair start, and they act on it.
Three Things We’re Taking Away
Belonging is a practice, not a destination. You do not find it on arrival. You choose it repeatedly, through small acts like showing up, introducing yourself and accepting the invitation.
Impact doesn’t have to wait. When real stories are told to people who care, support follows immediately. We watched it happen.
You don’t have to build alone. Whether you are starting a company or a whole new life somewhere unfamiliar, the right room changes everything.
With Gratitude
An evening like this depends on many people. Our thanks go to María Lucia Romero-Grother for hosting and bringing everyone together, and to Sara Cantelar Coello, whose initial connection made the event possible in the first place. We are also grateful to everyone who joined the audience, including Ramona Boucher Curecheriu, Margaux Blanc, Ana Livia Smith, and many other builders and change makers whose presence made the conversation richer.
Join Us
If you are building a business or a life in a new place, you do not have to do it in isolation. Join the FEMfounders network to hear about our next gatherings.
And if the stories from that evening moved you, you can help children in need of educational access through the Seeds for a Better World donation page.