Support most vulnerable & fight against isolation

The Porte d'Orléans district is marked by a concentration of people living in poverty and exclusion. According to the diagnosis carried out by the Direction Sociale de Territoire (DST) in 2018, the Porte d'Orléans neighborhood is characterized by:

-        the high proportion of young people (35% of residents are aged between 0 and 24),

-        the presence of many single-parent families (39% of families with children under 25)

-        the presence of large families (20% of families have at least three children).

-        the presence of people in precarious situations (84% of the population lives in social housing)

Furthermore, the lack of entertainment facilities, the lack of social ties and the high need for tutoring are all problems that remain unresolved due to the district's weak community fabric.

In response, the Secours Catholique of Paris, in collaboration with several partners, decided to set up a third-party association aimed at meeting the needs of the neighborhood's precarious population: the Tisseur de liens.

The partner associations for this project are :

-        Esperem: This is an independent association involved in the project as part of the integration aid.

-        Fondation Jeunesse Feu Vert : It operates within the framework of child protection. It also supports young people in difficulty, aged 11 to 25. The involvement of the association's educators in the project is intended to bring them closer to young people in difficulty in the Porte d'Orléans area.

-        La Cantine le Monde Bouge : A local association for mutual aid and sharing, it aims to encourage a social, intergenerational and culturally diverse mix within the reception area.

Open since May 13, 2024 at 6 rue Henri Barboux, the Tisseur de liens is located in the heart of the Porte d'Orléans district. There, Secours Catholique offers a range of activities including:

-        reception and referral services,

-        a support service for young people provided by educators from the Fondation Jeunesse Feu Vert,

-        group workshops (cooking, drawing, patchwork),

-        customization workshops in conjunction with Ressourcerie Créative,

-        individual digital assistance workshops,

-        individual literacy classes,

-        conferences

In the run-up to the inauguration, volunteers were busy getting the word out to local residents: they took part in the "Fête des Associations" on May 3, 2024. The event was held in front of the Prisse d'Avennes school, which welcomes, among others, the children of Porte d'Orléans families. In all, thirty people were informed of the opening of the premises.

Volunteers also organized an open house week from May 13 to 19, 2024. The event attracted 45 visitors, mostly from the 14th arrondissement of Paris.

By organizing a wide range of activities throughout the year, this project helps to combat social exclusion by creating social links and supporting people in their personal ambitions, whether educational, professional or family-related.

A real meeting place for all, it invites all residents to spend a convivial moment with their neighbors and friends. In this way, it helps to revitalize the Porte d'Orléans district.

 It also fosters inter-association collaboration, facilitating support for local people in precarious situations: the associations present on the premises combine their efforts to provide the best possible guidance for those in need, and to support them in their efforts to gain access to their rights. Over the course of the year, people experiencing poverty or exclusion can meet with the various players involved in the project to ask for their help on a range of issues.

"I'm happy to come and draw when I get off work. Now my son sees me when he comes home from school. I showed him my drawings. He told me they were works of art. I don't think the neighborhood is very lively, and there aren't enough things to do: go to the movies, go to a museum... I've never been to the theater. I'd be very happy to be able to go one day." - Mariam, a single mother who lives with her 12-year-old son above the premises.

"One day, on the way home from work, my daughter stopped in front of the Link Weaver. She picked up the schedule. When she got home, she said to me, 'Mom, you won't have to stay at home on your own while I go to work. You'll be able to go and do the activities on offer for the local residents." Since then, I've been perfecting my French and taking part in the anti-gaspi workshop every lunchtime." - Elizabeth, a regular at Le Tisseur de liens.

Since its opening on May 13, 2024, 28 volunteers and 2 salaried staff from Secours Catholique have been involved in the Porte d'Orléans reception project. In addition, 1 salaried employee from the Esperem association was also present for two hours a week from September to December 2024.

Finally, 3 volunteers from the Cantine le Monde Bouge are on hand 2 mornings a month to lead anti-gaspi cooking activities. They also run a well-being workshop one morning a month.

 In all, 175 people have taken part in the various activities organized by the drop-in center.

The project budget is 115 132€, including investment and carrying out of works.