International Roma Day: 10 years of action in France

Their names are Alice, Thea and Marina. They are part of the Première Urgence Internationale health mediation team. Every day, they take to the road to meet the most disadvantaged and excluded populations. With their team, they work for access to healthcare rights for all, and for social integration. In 10 years, they have seen the situation evolve, and the challenges multiply. But in 10 years, the teams have also helped to develop numerous activities and have seen people transform over the course of their work. Today, in a tense social climate and against a backdrop of economic crisis, the continuation of their actions is vital for people living in precarious housing. Take a look at their day-to-day work:

A DAY TO RAISE AWARENESS

Romanian-speaking populations in the Paris region face a number of difficulties. In addition to precarious living conditions, particularly in squats and shantytowns, which complicate access to water, electricity and education, these populations are often victims of prejudice.
education, these populations are often victims of prejudice. This stigmatization leads to discrimination in access to housing, employment and healthcare, as well as forced evictions. International Roma Day is an opportunity to highlight their culture and their contribution to society, while recalling the challenges and discrimination they face. It also aims to raise public awareness and promote recognition of their rights, while highlighting their cultural richness and diversity.

Access to healthcare for all

Première Urgence Internationale has been running health mediation activities since 2012 in the Île-de-France region, mainly in the departments of Seine-Saint-Denis, Essonne and Val-de-Marne. These actions bring together the largest number of people living in squats and shantytowns. Health mediation aims to improve access to rights, prevention and care for people who are far removed from the healthcare system, by taking into account their specific needs.

Over the years, Première Urgence Internationale’s mission in France has undergone a number of changes in response to local needs and circumstances. Initially, actions focused mainly on food aid and emergency accommodation for homeless people. Gradually, the mission extended its activities to other areas, such as health, hygiene, education, social support and health mediation.

With the migration crisis of 2015, Première Urgence Internationale’s France mission stepped up its interventions with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, particularly in camps and emergency shelters. The organization also worked to strengthen the resilience of local communities by encouraging their active participation in the implementation of sustainable solutions.

Learning French as a means of social integration

The NGO also supports people in exile to help them integrate socially and professionally, notably through intensive French language learning. “The learners we have are people with a real demand for learning. They want to learn and are aware that it’s important in their migratory journey,” stresses Marina, FLE teacher at Première Urgence Internationale. “You can see it in the progress they make. They help each other a lot. There’s a real group dynamic because they’re all in the same situation.”

During the first phase of COVID-19, the mobile teams set up carried out awareness-raising and orientation activities, and distributed hygiene kits to families living in squats and shantytowns. The NGO also ensured access to drinking water in eight settlements. It then repeated its emergency activities during the second lockdown, while resuming its health mediation activities, and conducting a needs assessment in the new settlements.

Health, an essential pillar of social and professional integration

In a deteriorating social and health context, Première Urgence Internationale has adapted its activities and is now developing a global health approach, closely linked to social inclusion, based on the observation that people’s state of physical and mental health influences their chances of success in social and professional integration. “Première Urgence Internationale carries out essential work with people living in poor housing and informal settlements in the Paris region. Health is an essential pillar of social and professional integration. Supporting people living in shantytowns in terms of health and socio-professional integration is essential to ensuring them a dignified future”, explains Clément Chappe, head of the Première Urgence Internationale France mission.

Today, more than ever, it is important to pursue our commitment to the most precarious populations, to enable them to rebuild their lives in conditions that are dignified and respectful of their fundamental rights, by implementing concrete actions to meet their urgent needs.

Mission France’s activities are made possible by funding from the Ile-de-France Regional Health Authority (ARS), the Regional and Interdepartmental Department of Housing and Accommodation (DRIHL) for the Val de Marne department (94), and the Regional Interdepartmental Department of Economy, Employment, Labor and Solidarity (DRIETTS) for the Val de Marne department (94).