Wednesday afternoon, Yann Galut, mayor of Bourges, and Marie-Hélène Biguier, deputy mayor responsible for intergenerational affairs, received three migrant families accompanied by their godmothers and godfathers. Around thirty people, including representatives of the Berry Coordination for the Right to Asylum, attended the republican ceremony which took place in the wedding hall of the town hall.
Painting of Marianne
“This dynamic was driven on a national scale by the National Association of Welcoming Cities and Territories (Anvita), explains Léa Enon-Baron, national coordinator of Anvita. Bourges is the tenth city in France to offer these sponsorships. »
Yolanda and Alfonso arrived in France a little over two years ago. They fled Peru with their two daughters, Ivanna and Brianna, following threats against Alfonso because of his work as a photographer-journalist. Also an internationally renowned painter, Alfonso painted a painting representing Marianne, a painting which he very officially presented to the mayor at the start of the ceremony.
Anne and Anne, their godmothers, are teachers and one of them has one of Yolanda and Alfonso's daughters in her class. “I immediately hit it off with Alfonso,” she confides, “because he looks a lot like my brother-in-law. The girls have integrated very well and the parents are fighting to obtain a residence permit. »
“This sponsorship ceremony highlights the spirit of solidarity, hope and fraternity that animates our city,” underlined Yann Galut in his speech. These sponsorships, although they have no legal value, are above all a moral commitment. The role of godmothers and godfathers does not consist only of one-off gestures, but of a continuous commitment to social inclusion, integration and solidarity. »
Pauline, for her part, arrived from Cameroon in 2019. She gave birth to a little boy in February 2020 in Bourges. “She had to face precariousness, but thanks to her hard work and commitment, she can offer a stable future to her son,” continued Yann Galut. Dominique and Jean are their godmother and godfather. “I wanted to get involved in this sponsorship to talk about it to those around me, to friends, parents, work colleagues in order to raise awareness,” revealed Jean. The term fraternity inscribed on the front of our town halls should not be an empty word. »
Death threats
All different situations which can border on the dramatic for these families waiting for a residence permit. Pélagie and her two children, the last family, arrived in France in December 2022. They fled the Congo due to death threats. In Bourges since March 2023, the mother has joined the Migrate au feminine group. Christiane and Daniel are their godmothers and godfathers. They wanted to get involved in this adventure to help them integrate. “As they speak French, it’s not too difficult,” explains Daniel.
The families left with a gourmet package filled with Berry specialties and a friendly drink followed this ceremony focused on generosity and civic commitment.
