In the courtyard, children play in inflatable pools to splash and snorkel, while a few meters away, a group is making kites with adults. Drums sound at the same time and women with their babies sip drinks in the sun, alongside teens jumping on trampolines. It looks like a holiday village, and yet we are in a schoolyard, that of the college La Grange-aux-Belles in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, in the middle of July, at a time when Usually schools are closed. It is thanks to the will of the mayor of Paris, which wanted to open 48 schools to families, including 28 in working-class neighborhoods, to make them places of life and activities.
The college of Grange-aux-Belles is a pioneer: the device had already been tested last year, before being extended this year. Between 80 and 120 people flock every day to enjoy the activities, and also, quite simply to meet up. “These are great places for families who cannot leave” explains the general manager of the four activity centers in the 10th district, Yann Moullec.
A bag race and free access activities
One of the keys to the success of this device is its flexibility. No need to register, you can come unexpectedly. “It’s a logic of free access,” explains Anne-Claire Boux, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of city policy, who came that day to greet associations and residents.
The other essential ingredient is people like Brigitte Jakobowski, president of the Magab association and a real mediator in the neighborhood. Because she was always outside, and often a witness during fights, her entourage pushed her to create an association, following a fatal brawl in 2018. She has become a real “radio” in the neighborhood, jokes- she, “radio Magab”, with her Whatsapp still connected to lots of message loops. At the college in La Grange-aux-Belles, she organizes reading workshops, storytelling, dictations, environmental awareness, and today, with mothers from the neighborhood, a sack race. “Courage, courage”, she shouts to two boys and three little girls who gesture like beans, wrapped in big white bags.
“The college courtyard is our theater, our village. It makes it possible to re-bond ”, intervenes Kevin, from the association Ngamb’Art who organizes dance and music lessons, according to needs. Because also for associations, this device is more flexible. Improvisation is allowed, attempts at innovation welcome. A less “institutional” and less competitive framework which facilitates exchanges between associations.
Moreover, a few meters away, several members of the Acort association (Citizens’ Assembly of people from Turkey) came as visitors. On Mondays, they run “egalitarian reporters”, media awareness workshops, but this time, they just “pass” as friends, say hello. Not far away, several members of the French language reception association have embarked on a kite-making workshop, with Omid and Mohsen, two Afghans. Inside, a belly dance class has already started, where three children and two women try their hand at pointes and balances, as a warm-up. “We can close our eyes,” advises the professor gently.
Exceptional budget this year
This impression of an active hive, this melting pot of skills, is not by chance. This work of link between associations was patiently woven by Mathie, of the city services. “These projects do not fall from the sky. Seventy people work on a daily basis to forge links, they are designers of the link of community life, ”explains Jérémie Suissa, the chief of staff of Anne-Claire Boux.
The opening of schools is part of the city’s plan for working-class neighborhoods, for which an exceptional budget was voted this year, like last year, to respond to the economic and health crisis. With around 800,000 euros more from the City and the State in total so that the summer of Parisians is not spoiled by the Covid-19.
Among other things, three swimming pools have been installed at Porte de Montreuil, La Villette and Porte d’Ivry, 22 sports facilities are open as part of the “Discovery Sport Center” and at the cultural level, actions outside the walls are organized by Paris Museums. More than 7,000 Parisians should also benefit from trips organized outside the capital. And Anne-Claire Boux to plead: “Our objective is that there is not a single day without activity for the working-class districts. “
College of Grange-aux-Belles. 158, quai de Jemmapes (10th). Open in summer mode until August 20. Complete programming on the website of the CRL10 association.