It is a "tribute" to all these women in the shadows, assures the Minister in charge of the City, Nadia Hai. To all these solo mothers, these single people or at the head of large families, these discreet daily activists who act, in their own way, to restore living together in working-class neighborhoods. In a few days, the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Territorial Cohesion will launch a pink vests fund (named after a collective from the city of Tarterêts in Corbeil-Essonnes), for a total amount of 2 million euros, to support and help structure these informal collectives.
“This phenomenon of women's groups has been present for several generations in the neighborhoods and, often, they are spontaneous initiatives that are very useful in the field but which do not have any premises or legal framework.
The idea is to provide them with financial support, support ”, explains the Minister who intends to finance between“ fifty and a hundred groups ”from January 2022.
"I appeal to all women in the neighborhoods to make themselves known to their prefecture and to those who want to commit to taking advantage of it", also insists Nadia Hai, who herself grew up in the 1980s in Trappes (Yvelines).
"We must allow them to carry out their projects"
Among these discreet collectives, a few have already been identified by the government and have been selected to be part of the system such as Be happy, Be Gentilly, based in Gentilly (Val-de-Marne), Place aux femmes in Aubervilliers (Seine-Saint-Denis), the Pink Vests in Corbeil-Essonnes (Essonne), the women's collective of the 3 Cités social center in Poitiers (Vienne), the Women of Plan-d'Aou in action in Marseille (Bouches -du-Rhône) or the Mamans des Pablo in Nanterre (Hauts-de-Seine) where this fund should be officially launched within a few days.
What is the link between all these groups?
Their social mediation action through marauding or occupying building halls, organizing festive events.
“They are courageous women who provide a link, who command respect, who intervene, very often, when they see the clashes between the inhabitants and the police.
Today, they must be allowed to carry out their projects, ”also emphasizes Nadia Hai.
The first Pink Vests grants should be paid in early 2022.
