Marianne Donven began her career as an Arbed steel trader, a role requiring constant travel, something that became difficult when she had three kids in three years. She later applied for a role at the Luxembourg Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She got the call on a Monday asking if she could fly to Colombo, Sri Lanka, that Thursday to help with tsunami relief efforts in the region. She accepted.
It was in this role that Donven says she “started to develop a lot of respect for people who survive with nothing, especially women.”
Her focus shifted closer to home during the European migrant crisis in 2015. While volunteering with the Luxembourg Red Cross, she became involved in the Hariko project, a creative space for young refugees. Through such work, she recognised not just the challenges they faced, but the talents they brought with them.
Chiche! began as a temporary pop-up restaurant but soon evolved into a social enterprise that combines Middle Eastern cuisine with refugee integration. Last year, the company counted 77 employees and paid €2.3 million in salaries and related labour costs. Despite some challenges and restaurant closures along the way, Chiche! is now present in Limpertsberg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Ettelbruck, and within Mudam.
“I stay calm with whatever happens because I have very large shoulders.”
The mission of Chiche! extends far beyond serving food. In addition to running the business, Donven spends a lot of time helping employees navigate immigration procedures, housing challenges, and personal difficulties. Over the years, word has spread, and she receives so many CVs that she has enlisted a volunteer to help those candidates find jobs.
With so many relying on her, Donven reminds her employees that neither she nor the restaurant will be able to support them for the rest of their lives. “This is a responsibility I could never have carried when I was younger. Now I stay calm with whatever happens because I have very large shoulders.”
This exclusive portrait was published in the 10th edition of Forbes Luxembourg.
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