“We are there to help them overcome the pitfalls,” says a volunteer from the local Mission, recently installed in the Young Quarter. Inaugurated last October, the QJ is a new public service in Paris where 16 to 30 year olds can meet health professionals, lawyers, guidance counselors, housing assistance associations, etc. “It’s really good what they do,” said Nadir, 19. I really needed to speak with a lawyer to know my rights regarding abusive police checks and found this place that helps me take legal action. Plus, it’s free. “
The place is designed in consultation with the Parisian Youth Council in order to create a “gateway” to all the solutions to the problems that people under 30 may encounter. “Young people tell us that they are aware of the solutions put in place to help them but do not know where to go, how to go about it”, explains Hélène Bidard, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of youth.
A HQ ” very heritage “
A problem that the QJ will take time to resolve because the young people met there are just discovering its existence. “It’s a shame that young people don’t know that it exists. If the commuters knew about this place, they would be very interested, says Nadir. I talked about it in my town, in 91, and it really liked it. “Same observation from Célina, 24 years old:” I did not know that it existed. I was sent here because the
Kiosk where I was going before closed. I wonder if there are really people coming. “ According to the town hall, 3,600 people came to the QJ in September, before its inauguration. A figure which should therefore be higher in October and November. But which remains low compared to the 500,000 young Parisians, and more than 2 million Ile-de-France residents, targeted by this project.
“We didn’t expect that,” say Célina and Diane (25) who are coming for the first time. Installed in the former premises of the town hall of the 1st arrondissement, the Quartier Jeune, facing the Louvre, looks more like a historical monument than a HQ. “It’s very heritage,” confirms Hélène Bidard. By “heritage”, it should be understood that a war memorial for France is located in the entrance of the building, that the ceiling height is about ten meters and that a gigantic rose window lets light pass into the room. 1st floor work room.
A decor that contrasts with the furniture – “thought out and designed in the workshops of the City of Paris”, specifies the chosen one – particularly modern. “We have integrated sockets in all the furniture so that young people can plug in their phones,” she adds. In the large study room, the armchairs cover the noise of conversations so that the interviews can be done in complete privacy.
“You have to dare to push the doors”
The QJ is a veritable maze with endless corridors and a multitude of doors Behind, hide first aid trainers, lecturers or “sex pros”, dixit Hélène Bidard. “You have to dare to push the doors,” she jokes.
After their stressful meeting with a lawyer, Nadir and a friend relax while playing table football. Behind the wall, one plunges into a huge filing cabinet, hoping to find his way there, while two friends at the table have a snack while admiring the place. “This multiplicity of responses in the same place is a wealth,” declares Valérie Deflandre, advisor at the Youth Information and Documentation Center (CIDJ). Sometimes I have students tell me about their health or money issues during my orientation appointments. I can’t help them with that and it relieves me that I can tell them to go knock on the door opposite rather than just leaving them with a phone number. “
Despite everything, Célina remains skeptical. “We place young people at the center of society, opposite the Louvre. It is sure that it is rewarding. But I don’t think that’s the best way to help them. “Instead of making food distributions in a golden place,” it would be better to look for solutions so as not to have to do any at all, “she regrets. And then, “who’s going to the Louvre?” »Asks her friend Diane. The young girl thinks that those who come to this expensive and touristy district “are not the ones who need help the most”.