On November 7, 2024, ERBM partners organized a day of mobilization in favor of the promotion of women's sport at the Évasion cultural center and the Léo Lagrange sports complex in Noyelles-Sous-Lens.
The event, entitled “Women and Sport”, was opened by Mr. Billant, prefect of Pas-de-Calais, in the presence of Mrs. Valérie Cuvillier, vice-president of Departmental Council 62, and Mr. Alain Roger, mayor of Noyelles-Sous-Lens and vice-president of the Lens-Liévin Urban Community (CALL).
Organized by a consortium of actors including DRAJES, IF2RT, SGARGeneral Secretariat for Regional Affairs Hauts-de-France, the DRDFERegional Directorate for Women's Rights and Equalitythe Regional Council and the departmental councils of Nord and Pas-de-Calais, as well as the CMQ sports professions, this day brought together more than 113 participants to debate and share around the crucial role of sport in health and emancipation of women.
Of the tables rwaves, ttestimonials inspirant and sports workshops
Round tables highlighted different research projects and inspiring initiatives to promote women's health, self-esteem and social integration through sport. Outreach initiatives to educate women to take care of themselves (PreSAFE from Santelys), associations that offer practices adapted to each person and non-gendered sports (maison sport santé, CDOS parity labelDepartmental Olympic and Sports CommitteeLJA rugby workshop), projects promoting the natural spaces of the mining basin as a practice area within reach (sporting challenges by bike or by walking via the Passerelle association or the MBM, etc.) or even original recruitment actions through sporting activities.
Testimonies from high-level sportswomen (Madame Mouton-Levreay; Madame Maréchal Jenifer and Madame Karine Baillet) were shared, illustrating the power of sport as a vector of inclusion and social emancipation.
Sports workshops allowed participants to put into practice the recommendations of the round tables, and to discover diversified activities, such as blazepods, tchoukball, adapted rugby, tai-chi, air boxas well as sessions ofbodily appropriation, Afrovibes and of Nordic walking.
A Day Marked by Commitment and Solidarity
The success of this day was reinforced by the presence of 35 women from the mining area, who, thanks to this event, were able to relive a sporting experience and will be able to benefit from personalized support from the region's health structures to continue their sporting journey.
Their presence was made possible thanks to recruitment initiated by our partners, most of whom are already involved in actions relating to women's health such as the Wingles town hall, the Douaisis local mission, the 9 de coeur association, etc.
Madam sub-prefect of Lens and Mr. DRAJES ad intermi Olivie Selosse gave sneakers to the participants during the lunch break, a concrete gesture to encourage the women present to resume regular physical activity, made possible thanks to the sponsorship of Decathlon .
How to go further?
Ms. Depeauw's introductory presentation and the participants' testimonies served as a reminder of the real obstacles – both social and physical – that can prevent regular practice.
The challenge now is to maintain the link between the different participating structures and to initiate collaborative projects for the benefit of women in the mining area. A report of the day will be written and will allow the reflections and contributions of this event to be shared.
The success of the day was also measured by the smiles on faces and the dynamic atmosphere on site, because returning to sport requires above all pleasure and the search for well-being!
