As the holidays approach, associations try to rebuild social ties and provide help to the most deprived families. Focus on the initiatives that came to fruition on Saturday December 14 in Dumbéa-sur-mer and Vallée-des-Colons.
Offering a festive Christmas in a difficult economic context is the mission that the N Gere K association and Secours populaire have given themselves. It was all day Saturday, December 14, at the community center in Dumbéa-sur-mer. Around a hundred families living in the area as well as in Koutio took advantage of the festivities. On the program, a shared meal, creative workshops, games and even pony rides.
“The theme is Green Santa”explains Fiona Aucher, the treasurer of the N Gere K association. “The usual red Santa Claus cannot necessarily go to all the houses, and especially those of the most deprived. So, the idea was to offer all the children of Dumbéa-sur-mer a Christmas with several activities for them. make you smile.” Including “a wall of expression, so that people can tell their stories, make calls for peace or wishes for solidarity”.
Joanna Robin’s report
In conjunction with the French Secours populaire, food distributions have been regular since September in Dumbéa. The Samaritan’s purse association will soon join N Gere K to organize a new round of gifts for the children of the town.
It was also Saturday, but in Nouméa, at the Champagnat college in Vallée-des-Colons, that the association A Sandwich for Others organized its Christmas meal for the benefit of the most deprived. The opportunity, for people in precarious situations, to share a friendly moment in front of well-filled plates. “For all isolated people, who do not have family or loved ones”, describes the vice-president of the association, Luna Lopes.
“But also children who live in families in financial difficulty and who do not have the opportunity to [passer] holidays like any other. That’s why there’s a makeup artist, a bouncy castle, marching bands and singers to try to bring them this party.” And slip: “It’s complicated at the moment, people are more likely to divide than to come together. It was important to continue doing it this year.”
Laura Schintu met Luna Lopes and Fabrice, who experienced this moment:
©newcaledonia
