GEM Solé once again supports brain-injured people

Tous les participants réunis devant le local avec, au premier rang, Mathias Nieps en costume cravate et à sa droite, Abdelali El Asri.

A few days ago, President Abdelali El Asri and the nineteen members inaugurated their new Mutual Aid Group GEM Solé (sun in Italian), which succeeds the previous structure, closed during the Covid-19 health crisis . Many personalities were present at this festive inauguration: Mathias Nieps, the deputy secretary general of the Gard prefecture; representatives of APSH 30 (Association supporting people with disabilities); Marcel Lozi, director of the Retraining Evaluation and Social Orientation Unit (Ueros); Guillaume Dubois, director of the Occitanie Regional Health Agency; and Édith Louis, vice-president of the Association of Head Trauma Families (AFTC).

Other associations also participated in this inauguration, such as Amaos, which welcomed Abdelali El Asri when he arrived in France and taught him French, and the Journal de Valdegour, where he is a volunteer in civic service. "We founded this mutual aid group in January 2023, says the young president. LThe GEM welcomes people with brain injuries following head trauma, stroke or brain problems, with the aim of solidarity and mutual aid. It’s about breaking people’s isolation and supporting them on a daily basis." All in their premises, located rue Cart, a few steps from the arenas and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Belote with the neighborhood seniors

Thanks to its full-time facilitator, the GEM offers activities all week: on Monday, language workshop (learning a language, English or other) and belote with the seniors neighboring the GEM premises; on Tuesday, digital workshop and writing workshop with a volunteer. On Wednesday morning, the GEM is closed and the afternoon takes place with board games; on Thursday, dance workshop and creative workshop and, on Friday, language workshop and sports outings. The activities are chosen by the members and a schedule of them is regularly updated.

Subsidized by the ARS

In addition to Fatima, the facilitator, five volunteers work at GEM to help members carry out their activities. "Everyone is welcome here", says the host. "We are subsidized by ARS Occitanie, concludes Abdelali El Asri, but we have also applied for a grant from the City of Nîmes." Around thirty people were present at this inauguration of the new premises of an association which has almost twenty members. Members who have given themselves a little nickname: the Gemeurs.

Contacts: GEM Solé 4, rue Cart., Tel. 06 80 20 01 94; by email gemsole2023@gmail.com.

Correspondent Midi Libre: 06 17 12 97 92

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