Yellow or orange t-shirts on their backs, Priscillia and Savannah already have a nostalgic smile, Friday June 21, 2024, looking behind them. At 26 and 18 years old, they are one of the 24 young people in civic service hired by Unis-Cité over the last eight months. A reception at city hall marked the end of their mission.
“Seeing that everything stops today hurts my heart”
The oldest member of the group, Priscillia is one of the only young people to have spoken in front of the small audience of association leaders, partners and seniors. She couldn’t hold back her tears. With a lump in her throat, she confided in her unique experience, far from what the banal term “civic service” could describe, as there is so much to tell.
Last Friday, 24 young people gathered at the Châteauroux Town Hall to officially conclude the end of their engagement mission. During this ceremony, associations, partners and seniors were present.
© (Photo NR, Matthieu Renard)
At the bedside of isolated elderly people
At the end of her speech, she talks about her journey, her eyes red. A mother from the age of 18, she quickly had to take responsibility for her three children. “Subsequently, I voluntarily joined the Vaugirard/Saint-Christophe social center where I led various activities. But there came a time when I felt the need to change my life. That’s when I was recommended civic service. I opted for the Senior Solidarity mission because of my love for human contact”she says. This contact and the creation of a bond with the elderly has “deeply touched”. However, it is not always easy: “We are fully aware of the isolation of the elderly. Seeing that everything is stopping today hurts my heart. There, now I would like to get a driving license and continue working with the elderly. »
“Regain confidence”
At his side, Savannah, originally from Châteauroux, recounted how civic service helped her overcome a personal failure. After abandoning her first year of literary prep in Bordeaux, she returned home and decided to engage in civic service. “I didn’t want to stay without doing anything, I wanted to commit to a project and see it through to the end to regain confidence in myself”, she explains. Savannah, like eight other young people, chose the environmental mission because of her reserved nature, feeling incapable of working with elderly people. In this mission, she and her team were notably able to organize a clean walk in March in the Beaulieu district. “What I have loved over the last few months is discovering different professions and life paths. It showed me that I wasn’t alone. Now I will resume my studies at university. »
Marie Nodot, team and project coordinator and Caroline Larpent, head of the Unis-Cité branch in Châteauroux.
© (Photo NR, Matthieu Renard)
Unis-cité is recruiting civic services for senior solidarity or environmental missions. An information meeting is planned for Thursday June 27, 2024, 11 a.m., at their premises, 36, avenue d’Argenton, in Châteauroux. Website: www.uniscite.fr
landmarks
> Since 2021, 80 young people, aged between 16 and 25, have been able to carry out their civic service in Châteauroux.
> With weeks of between 24 and 35 hours per week, young people receive compensation of more than €600/month.
> For the 2023-2024 season, 16 young people have committed to the Senior Solidarity mission. During the year, they accompanied 25 elderly people, conducted weekly visits, 500 individual support sessions, including 90 for “digital” assistance. As for the eight people on the Environment mission, their working time was divided between workshops conducted with all generations, participation in events, and a clean walk in March, in the Beaulieu district.
> Unlike other branches, that of Châteauroux does not benefit from local subsidies, which slows down its development. It operates mainly thanks to grants redistributed by the national headquarters of the association.
