Sylvie and Louai laugh in front of the Romans-sur-Isère cemetery: “Those are dandelions, right?” asks Louai, 14, who volunteers to help visitors carry their flower pots. “But no, they are chrysanthemums” Sylvie kindly corrects him, a cart full of flowers. This is the objective of the “I carry your pot” operation launched 3 years ago by the town hall: to bring generations together, and to keep young people between 12 occupied and 15 years in priority districts, such as La Monnaie, during school holidays.
“These young people are very nice”
“I think it’s great, these young people are very nice“, rejoices Sylvie. The retiree already got help last year and intends to repeat the experience. “There is an exchange, I am delighted” she continues. Louai had never set foot in the cemetery before this week of vacation: “I often walk past it because I go to play football next door. I had nothing to do in the neighborhood so I volunteered. I like it, they tell us about their lives. For example Earlier, a lady spoke to me about the Second World War. She was 8 years old and had to hide under the stairs when there were bombings. It’s impressive”.
“…but on condition that they are polite”
Two young people approach Dominique and Robert, a pot of flowers in their arms. The couple refuses their help. It’s a good initiative, thinks Dominique, “but on condition that they are polite“Contact between the two generations is generally going very well, assures the deputy at the town hall, responsible for prevention of school affairs, youth and family, Edwige Arnaud: “it requires a bit of adaptation sometimes, they don’t necessarily have the appropriate language codes. But they adapt very quickly. It takes them out of their neighborhood where they are bored during the holidays at the foot of their building. It gives them meaning, they help people and they do it voluntarily“.
The ten young people stay until Friday November 1st. The operation will be repeated next year.
Marie Boëda
Marie Buda
Senegal
