The association “Tous citoyens!” protects unaccompanied minors who have been put back on the street by the Child Welfare Services and helps them prove their minority. However, we are no longer able to meet the essential expenses for this care.
David Nakache, president of the association: “Tous citoyens!” receives no subsidies and our efforts are now in jeopardy because we can no longer cover these expenses. Several volunteers have advanced expenses that we cannot reimburse. We will no longer be able to obtain the birth certificates of the next minors we support.
We are therefore reaching out to you to continue helping unaccompanied foreign minors not supported by Child Welfare Services.
They are called Omour, Mamadou, Mohamed, or Benjamin. They fled war, ethnic conflicts, forced labor, or family violence. All of them took over a year to come to France. Most endured abuse in Libya and traumatic Mediterranean crossings. Upon their arrival and after an initial sheltering, they were all thrown out on the street by the Child Welfare Services because they could not prove their minority on their own.
Housed by volunteers, recognized as minors by the juvenile court, and placed in a shelter, they are now protected, learning French, and many are receiving vocational training.
What will the collected money be used for?
When our association takes charge of a minor, the first thing is to provide them with food and establish a climate of trust. Then comes a series of expenses, more or less significant: phones at 15 €, phone top-ups at 5 €, medical expenses, clothing (although we always prioritize second-hand), hygiene products, etc. But our main challenge is obtaining original birth certificates from their home country to prove the minority of these young exiles: sending the certificate costs between 45 and 60 €.
