In the streets of the 17th arrondissement, she is regularly greeted by passers-by. And for good reason, Lourdes Fernandes, nicknamed “Loulou”, is a well-known figure in this district in the northwest of Paris. For 30 years, she has been a caretaker at number 26 rue Gauthey.
Since 2015, she has been organizing a popular Neighbors Day. Over the years, this event has continued to grow, so much so that she now has to organize it in the street. “There were so many people that we couldn’t be in the yard anymore,” explains Lourdes Fernandes. This year, she expects more than 1,000 people to come. “She gives life to the building and creates a permanent bond,” says Pierre, the owner of the building where Loulou works. “The Neighbours’ Day brings a feeling of belonging to a neighborhood with real exchanges. »
To organize this colossal celebration, Lourdes Fernandes, also deputy mayor of the 17th arrondissement in charge of the fight against extreme exclusion and precariousness, works with several volunteers from the association Village Gautheyspecially created for this occasion.
To discover the preparations for this party, the rest of the testimony of “Loulou” can be found in the video placed at the top of this article…