Between Valdegour and Pissevin, in Nîmes, social mediation, an essential bridge to recreate links

Début mars, le député Patrick Vignal, qui travaille sur le loi pour reconnaître le métier de médiateur social, était en visite au Pimms. Midi Libre – E. Be

Meeting with the mediators of Pimms, a multi-service mediation information point, which has been working since 1998 to recreate proximity between French administration and residents.

In the premises of Pimms, in the heart of the Valdegour district in Nîmes, Djamila and Mohamed clearly do not want to give up. While this area and that of nearby Pissevin are best known for their crime and heavy trafficking, they see above all, and particularly in Pissevin, a neighborhood where, on "the 15 000 inhabitants, 98 % aspire to live peacefully", says Mohamed. "A lot of things positive things are being done, many initiatives are being carried out and great successes exist, despite a climate which has hardened. It is also up to us to participate in making them better known", says Cécile Barde, director of the Multiservice Mediation Information Point (Pimms) where fifteen mediators work.

Place the person at the center of their journey

Here, mediation takes on its full meaning. This, despite a lack of recognition of this profession, on which a law is currently being developed. Because social mediation sometimes has this intangible aspect, this field work over a long period of time which makes discussions around its financing more complex. "What we realizes is that many devices exist, but that many people do not know about them, points out Mohamed. Who advocates a policy of outstretched hands, all "by being forceful of suggestions, by placing the person at the center of their journey, by giving them the power to act".

At 39 years old, Mohamed will celebrate his 10th anniversary at Pimms next year. Its mission is "to move towards" and in particular the 16-25 year olds or &quot ;29 years old if there is a disability situation". Its priority, those who have left the school system, "in order to show them that there are other paths. I often say that I am a translator from French to French, a link between the administration and young people. Mohamed's easy chat and his quiet strength accompany him when he travels around the neighborhood: "I don't force anyone, but if there are needs, I'm there. My goal is to build a dialogue with young people. For some, when I feel that it is not the time, that they are not ready, I move on. Sometimes I see them again a few months later…"

Show that "everything is possible"

For others, Mohamed listens to needs, directs them towards the right structures:"There is a very strong associative fabric in Pissevin on which we can rely. I try to reach out to a population that would not come looking for information on their own." With the "A side step" system, it participates in the identification and reintegration into the system of these "invisible" young people, sometimes disappeared from society's radar screens.  It also shows these future adults who have sometimes never left their neighborhood that "everything is possible". "They need to become aware of it". Faced with social determinism, Mohamed opposes "Dreaming by peers", action through which they can meet people with atypical backgrounds, "director, firefighter, photographer…&nbsp ;

Jobs, driving licenses and housing are the main obstacles faced by these young people. To these problems, Pimms has answers to support professionalization. With the desire to bring back those who are sometimes a little lost on the side of the road…

"I'm not afraid to go to work"

Djamila, who grew up in Pissevin, has, among her duties, days of duty at La Poste in the Pissevin/Valdegour district. "I am here to support people in their administrative procedures in particular, helping them with IT for example", tells this dynamic forty-something with a big smile. Faced with the fears that we can express about our daily life, she refutes most impressions: "I'm not afraid to go to work, not afraid to come home in the evening. Despite everything, it is a lively neighborhood where life is good."

What is the role of Pimms ?

If the Pimms mediation Nîmes has been open since 2001, the history of the multi-service mediation information points began in 2001. in 1995. The governance of the National Union of PIMMS is ensured by 10 large national companies which guarantee its presence in the territories, its operation and its financing (EDF, Engie, Enedis, Keolis, La Banque Postale, La Poste, Malakoff humanis, SNCF, Suez, Veolia). Its actions are also focused on social mediation, digital inclusion, the professional springboard, the budget advice point, but also France services, which aims to increase the number of people involved. bring together in a single place access to all public services.

More information on www.pimmsmediation.fr.

If she does not lapse into angelism about the dark side of Pissevin, about the lack of diversity and a "withdrawal into oneself which has worsened with the Covid", she, like all those encountered at Pimms, would especially like that the image of their neighborhood is not limited to &quot ;that". "I've been working here for 17 years, three years as director. What I see above all is that there is a lot of wealth in the neighborhood, pleads Cécile Barde. And that we can help restore speech and pedagogy. To make sure we know each other and talk to each other in a sometimes divisive society."

The Pimms is recruiting mediators. Information by telephone on 04 66 62 02 57 or on site at 663, rue Neper in Nîmes. I subscribe to read more