In Nice, in the Bon Voyage neighborhood, a dozen children aged 10 to 15 are participating in the renovation of the facade of a Côte d’Azur Habitat building. Supervised by a painter from the neighborhood and supported by the PAJE association, they are learning about solidarity, responsibility, and the value of collective work.
Under the autumn sun, white suits and protective goggles bustle around building 23 in the Bon Voyage neighborhood, not far from the Pasteur University Hospital. Since Tuesday, a dozen children have been busy repainting the base of the building, brush in hand and smiles on their faces. These 10 to 15-year-olds, all from the neighborhood, are renovating their living environment as part of the 2nd Solidarity Project organized by Côte d’Azur Habitat and the PAJE association.
Supervised by Gaiech, a craftsman painter and a figure in the neighborhood, the children are introduced to manual labor while participating in a collective project. “It’s an example we set for the young ones so they know how to work and have a professional experience,” explains the painter. Involved for six years in PAJE’s activities, he especially emphasizes the educational significance of the project: “The most important thing is to make them understand that whether it’s their building or not, they must always take care of it because it’s their neighborhood above all.”
The project was supposed to last until Sunday, but the enthusiasm of the youth disrupted expectations. Without realizing it, the children progressed quickly and everything is expected to be finished by Friday. The atmosphere is studious and joyful. For Djalil, 14 years old, from a neighboring building, the experience is rewarding. “I came because my friends were here, but I am very happy. Repainting a building in our neighborhood, it’s rewarding for all of us.”
A Project with Strong Social Impact
Beyond painting, the solidarity project carries a broader ambition of strengthening cohesion and a sense of belonging. For Manuel Smadja, Director-General of Côte d’Azur Habitat, this initiative fully aligns with the social mission of the landlord. “Côte d’Azur Habitat is more than a housing manager. We invest heavily in the property, but this investment must be accompanied by a human investment. This project is modest, but very symbolic. These children want to beautify their neighborhood, and I find that magical.”
This philosophy is part of a large-scale strategic plan, with more than 300 million euros invested over ten years. But beyond the numbers, the goal is primarily to encourage local initiatives, from inclusion to parenting, through social cohesion.
Mediation, a Lever for Citizen Engagement
The P@JE association, a key partner in the project, plays a crucial role in this closeness. Present for more than twenty years in the Nice neighborhoods, it works on social mediation, access to rights, administrative procedures, and inclusion. “Thanks to our mediators based in the neighborhoods, we can more easily connect with the youth and their families,” explains Riad Kaafarani, Deputy Director of the P@JE social center. “It’s a mutual commitment. In exchange for their participation in these civic actions, we reward them with group outings.” Indeed, the association has already planned to take the children to the ice rink at the end of the project.
Bon Voyage Residents Touched and Proud
The initiative does not go unnoticed in the neighborhood. Faouzi, a resident of the renovated building, watches the children at work with appreciation: “It’s a pleasure to see what the children are doing. Seeing our neighborhood cleaner is great. Because here, some don’t respect the places, but they set the example.”
This image of children repainting their building illustrates a rare and precious intergenerational solidarity. For the P@JE team, it proves that young people are capable of positively impacting their environment when given the opportunity.
An Adventure that Continues in Images
The adventure doesn’t stop with this project. In parallel, the Bon Voyage children have been working for two months on a video documentary about the intergenerational culture of the neighborhood. “They wanted to understand why this neighborhood is so important to the elders,” narrates Farid Hmaidi, socio-educational mediator at P@JE. “Knowing why this culture exists here, through celebrations, meals where everyone brings a dish from their home, creating moments of sharing and cohesion among residents.”
Interviews, archive footage, and testimonials will pace this future 40-minute medium-length film. The screening is hoped to happen in a month at Bon Voyage 2 school, the neighborhood’s intergenerational symbol, where everyone grew up.
A new way for these young people to highlight the richness of their neighborhood and to magnify this collective movement initiated by the PAJE association and supported by the social landlord Côte d’Azur Habitat.
