In January 2024, “Together for My Education” was launched. This is a measure aimed at supporting parents of young people monitored by the Council for the Rights and Duties of Families team. And this Wednesday, July 3rd, at the AnimaNice Django Reinhardt Center, young students followed by the CDDF were rewarded for their diligence and investment.
The city of Nice has implemented a parental support policy from an early age. The Council for the Rights and Duties of Families (CDDF) assists families and their children, young minors and adults with schooling issues (truancy, school dropout, behavioral problems, etc.). The goal is to offer them an action plan to help them regain confidence and improve their academic performance, all in connection with the National Education system.
Senior volunteers registered with the municipal seniors’ office offered young people tutoring and homework help. It was at the AnimaNice Django Reinhardt center that we were able to meet them and attend their awards ceremony.
A Moment of Exchange and Sharing
On site, Jennifer Salles, the deputy in charge of seniors and solidarity, was present, as well as Marie-Pierre Lazard, municipal councillor sub-delegated to the Council for the Rights and Duties of Families and the Child-Friendly City label. Fatima Khaldi-Bououghroum, the deputy in charge of the Rives du Paillon territory and mediation, was also there.
The young people, their families, and the seniors involved were also present. The ceremony began with speeches from the various members present: young people, seniors, and organizers all showed their appreciation and pride in being able to create and participate in this project. It demonstrated cohesion, enjoyment, exchange, and fraternity within this wonderful team.
On this day, 6 young people and 7 senior volunteers registered with the municipal seniors’ office attended the ceremony. Like Saliha Mnasri, who said: “I was contacted via email as I am one of the seniors in the city of Nice. I showed up and that’s how I got involved in this initiative.”
Mentoring and Intergenerational Solidarity
Seniors help students in the 4th and 5th grades and the first and second years of junior high. It involves 1.5 to 2 hours of support, once or twice a month. Students facing significant academic challenges are targeted. As the senior explained: “These students are in a very difficult situation. They can’t read or write, so it was very challenging at first. They don’t know the alphabet, can’t comprehend instructions, and don’t know how to conjugate the verb ‘to be’ in the present tense. We need to acknowledge this reality.”
These students are then identified by the National Education system and the judiciary to help them catch up through this initiative and intergenerational solidarity. They first analyze the problems and then find solutions.
And this solution comes from the seniors, as well as the bond created between them and the young people through this initiative. “They were motivated by the program in place. We, as seniors, make contact with them and try to build their confidence. They always receive bad grades and negative feedback, so they are fearful and uncomfortable. We work to affirm their value. We are not there to grade or judge them, but simply to help. And gradually, we succeeded in creating trust. We are happy, proud, and eager to return,” explained Saliha.
The young and the seniors ยฉ Vicky Warocquier
