Living together

Six publications of the French group Bayard – La Croix, Astrapi, Okapi, Phosphore, Pèlerin, Notre temps – have decided to propose reflections on the contemporary meaning of "living together". Differences, fraternity, commitment, justice, trust: what meaning can be given to these values today? How can they be reaffirmed in this period of crisis that upsets social models and calls into question our relations with others? A survey – said the president of the group Georges Sanerot – has "brought together readers of all ages – from 7 to 77 – : students, pupils, people involved in the job environment and pensioners from different backgrounds".Differences. Whether social or physical, "differences weigh on the schooling of adolescents", remarked Marie-Remande Archer (Okapi). In a meeting with nine adolescents with disabilities at their boarding school in Paris, Camil confessed: "At the beginning I felt bad about being ‘healthy’. But as we got to know each other better, things improved!" In order to promote socialization the organization Handivalides transformed a class in a village from Senegal. "I met people with greater ease than before", commented Roumeïssa, a youth affected by a serious handicap. For Julie (17), the problem is "the social pressure" caused by "rich schoolmates wearing designers’ clothes". "In order not to be left out I feel compelled to dress just like them", she confessed, even though this depletes the low budget available. Among the initiatives for people with disabilities Marie-Christine Vidal (Pèlerin) described the Ilot Bon Secours, "a unique reception centre that welcomes old people, families and people affected by the Down syndrome. It is an "intergenerational project" so as to "recreate the life in a village" explained counselor Marjorie Demelin. Respect and fraternity. "A group of fourteen-year-old students say ‘no’ to bullying, which we witness in class every day", Perrine told Okapi. For Léo it’s not enough to take the victims’ sides: "it’s necessary to speak with adults immediately". Past December the youth visited two Finnish schools (90% of the schools in Finland adopted programs to counter bullying) and learned about "team spirit", Fanny said. "Coexister" is an association of Christian, Jewish and Muslim youth (16-35 year-olds) who engage in dialogue "expressing themselves in full freedom and mutual respect" explained Farah, Muslim, (22). Florence Leduc (57) told Notre temps about the Café des Aidants, the association she founded "to support people who every day devote their time to assisting a sick family member: four million in France". We encourage conviviality and mutual respect between neighbours, Atanase Périfan (46), organizer of "neighbourhood" events and encounters reported to Notre Temps, while Aude Messéan (59), co-founder of Pari-solidaire, combats "isolation" by promoting students’ sharing of homes with old people who live alone. "Making more beautiful women so poor that they don’t comb each other and don’t look at themselves in the mirror" is the "mission" of Lucia Iraci (54) hairdresser of Sicilian origin, who created a "social beauty salon" adjacent to her store. Commitment, justice and faith. Trying to achieve what is seemingly impossible is the mission of Francine Leca, first woman heart surgeon in France. Today, at 73, she is in charge of bringing poor children with serious heart diseases to France: "1.800 children have been operated and ‘saved’ in 15 years; an average of 120 each year". "Working the land is good for the body and also for the spirit", is the belief of Jean-Guy Henckel (56) who created his first "reintegration garden" in Besançon in 1991. "We enable people in difficult situations (unemployment, dependence, depression) to ‘rebuild’ themselves, offering an 18-month working contract", he explained. A white barge moored on the Seine in Conflans -– Sainte – Honorine (Yvelines), called "Je sers" (I serve), animated by a community of Assumptionists with the support of a team of lay people, "welcomes people wounded by life, who jointly try to get back on their feet", explained the chaplain Fr. Yves Géneau: "people who need faith and someone who will listen to them without counting the minutes. Our world’s is already hastened too much in a hurry for them", added sister Myriam. Children’s voices. The children that intervened in the debate promoted by "La Croix" have clear ideas. "Living together means living with someone we love, and also with someone whom we don’t love at all", remarked seven-year-old Jalil; "but people can’t be forced to live together", objected Camille (15). Madeleine (13) said: "At least, everyone should be respected". For Emilio-Kodjo (10), "everyone must have equal rights". He added: "lies prevent coexistence. If you don’t trust someone, you cannot live with him". Kalaï (16) supports the need for "society to set the rules".