2024 Legislative Elections: Cesam in Dijon for the training and support of immigrants

95% of the people who come to Cesam in Dijon are job seekers. But each year, Cesam also welcomes 3,500 migrants60% women and 40% men. This organization aims to support and train them with the aim of helping them find work..

Language learning: an essential step

Françoise Lechat, the director of Cesam in Dijon, says that the first step when Cesam welcomes foreigners or migrants is learning the language and French. “That’s where it all starts, because knowing French then allows these people to be able to integrate”. It is also about discovering the territory in order to involve immigrants in the life of the city. Françoise Lechat also specifies that today, more and more employers are attentive to recruiting migrants when they have passed through Cesam because they have a residence permit, which allows them to work without worries.

Difficult access to employment for immigrants

Sarah Descombin is a facilitator at Cesam in Dijon, she manages the social integration program “Ensemble”. On a daily basis, she supports foreigners and migrants in language learning courses but also in many other steps. “Having access to a job is more difficult today for a foreigner” explains Françoise Lechat “because there is also the question of housing insecurity and financial insecurity.”

The sectors which employ the most foreigners today in France are construction, personal assistance professions, and the cleaning sector.. “Often it is a demanding job” recognizes the director of Cesam but “It also happens that people arrive with a medical or pediatrician diploma in their country and there too it is difficult to find them a place“.

When they arrive in France, immigrants are aware that they absolutely have to work to get by. “Their journey has often been chaotic to reach us and finding a job is life-saving.” concludes the director of Cesam.

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