The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, visited the HETIS school yesterday to engage with students training in social relations professions. It was a significant encounter that allowed for open discussions about human relations careers, the role of the CCAS, and the social challenges facing the city of Nice.
The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, spent the afternoon of Monday, October 13, at the Haute École du Travail et de l’Intervention Sociale (HETIS), alongside the school’s president Albert Marouani, its general director Philippe Fofana, and the vice-president of the CCAS and deputy mayor, Jennifer Salles.
In front of 80 first-year students, he took the opportunity to praise the value of social professions, which he deems essential to the balance of society. “In the face of the world changes we know, transition is the main driver of today’s innovation. (…) But what I am certain of is that the social relations profession will remain a constant“, he asserted in his speech.
This meeting was part of a clear intention to open a dialogue with the youth and understand their aspirations in a sector undergoing significant changes. It was also an opportunity for students to express their expectations, as well as the challenges they face in accessing the profession.
A strong partnership between the City and HETIS
The CCAS of Nice (Communal Social Action Centre) was also present. Its partnership with HETIS is one of the oldest and most active in the area. 75% of the CCAS’s social workers come from this school.
With 582 agents and a budget of 56 million euros, the CCAS serves as the real “arm” of the municipal social policy. The city and the school develop numerous professional pathways like internships, apprenticeships, and specialized training in early childhood or social emergencies, notably with evening accommodations for the homeless at Fodéré.
“I am fairly convinced that you chose this field because it is within you. Supporting people who face all sorts of difficulties, and giving your best every day for them is essential to you“, Christian Estrosi emphasized in front of the students.
Revealing life paths and a message to the administration
Throughout the discussions, the students shared their backgrounds. Among them, a young woman, a former territorial maintenance agent, recounted her frustration with having to enroll in this school to work closely with children. She explained that she didn’t have opportunities for advancement after three years of renewed fixed-term contracts.
The mayor praised her initiative while acknowledging the limitations of public service in internal promotion. “This student, who was our collaborator, wasn’t offered the opportunity to progress with us, and that’s a message that needs to be conveyed to our administration and human resources. (…) We need to allow our agents to train and advance, like this young woman, because it is a cost and the community can assist them.”
This statement might lead to a wider reflection within the city hall on supporting internal career paths.
Les Moulins, the youth, and the need for mediation
Another significant exchange involved a student wishing to become a social worker in the Les Moulins neighborhood. He expressed his desire to help youth avoid delinquency and drugs.
The mayor responded candidly, “No matter how much we work to boost the neighborhood, you have gangs, mafias trying to take over. (…) These young people aged 14 or 15, sometimes from stable families, are vulnerable. All it takes is offering them 1,500 or 2,000 euros to act as lookouts, and they fall into a terrible cycle.“
Christian Estrosi emphasized the crucial role of social mediation, a field in which the city struggles to recruit. “It is an area where we are ready to call on HETIS to provide us with qualified staff graduating from here to assist us.”
Constructive exchanges
Finally, the students had the chance to address their challenges in finding internships, a common problem in the first year. The CCAS took advantage of the meeting to provide personalized advice and direct several students towards concrete solutions.
Through this intergenerational dialogue, Nice reaffirms its commitment to supporting the training and integration of future social relations professionals, who are essential to the city’s solidarity.
