It all started with a crazy idea.
While in Niger, Eulalia Zeitoun, Jérémie's mother, meets Adam, a young African who dreams of completing his studies in Paris.
But Adam doesn't really have a penny.
“
Deal,
”
Jeremy's mother suggests.
I host you for a symbolic rent, and you become my son's helper
”.
Bargain.
Eulalia, her husband and her daughter leave the family apartment to make it the kingdom of their son and brother Jérémie, suffering from a degenerative disease, and riveted to his wheelchair.
To read also: Handicap: the brothers and sisters, the big "forgotten"
Every morning, every evening, the Nigerien supports the young student for the simplest gestures. Move his chair himself, take a shower, open a computer, so many tasks forbidden to the paralyzed. As sickness spreads to Jeremiah's limbs, Adam is no longer enough. A student joins them, then two, then four who, in exchange for a symbolic rent, push the chair, prepare meals, ensure a presence. “
To be an assistant, no diploma is required,
” explains Eulalia Zeitoun. “
For our part, we have chosen to appeal to acquaintances, friends of friends and their children. Are you nice, do you want to get involved, give your time, do you know how to turn a computer on and off? We hire you!
», Launches the dynamic mother.
In the beautiful bright apartment in the heart of the trendy Belleville district in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, there is now Darlène, 23, Burundian in archi school;
Léo and Songül, a young couple who arrived a month ago;
and finally Marie, who is about to join the household.
Without forgetting of course Jeremy, muscular, beard shaved and tanned complexion, the luminous smile.
In the living room, there is an air of siblings, and everything seems simple.
"
We forget the handicap
"
However, since that famous day when doctors diagnosed their 6-year-old boy with Friedrich's ataxia, the path of the Zeitoun family has not always been easy. This neurodegenerative disease, still rare with some 1,300 patients in France, causes a disconnection between the nervous system and the muscles, and a progressive disarticulation of the limbs. “
At the beginning, we didn't realize anything,”
says his sister Lucie, two years his junior
. Then the effects arrived by mitigating: the way of walking, a little clumsy, then the use of the hands, the weakening of the language…
”. At the age of 15, the teenager can no longer stand on his feet, and straps to a wheelchair that he will never leave.
The doctors spoke to us about a medico-educational institute, envisaged a parallel life.
For my parents, it was out of the question.
Lucie, sister of Jérémie
However, his parents made it a point of honor: if no treatment exists to cure this disease, whatever.
Their son will lead a normal life.
Neither more nor less than all the young people of his age.
“
The doctors spoke to us about a medico-educational institute, envisaged a parallel life.
For my parents, it was out of the question,
”explains Lucie.
Read also: The worst-case scenario for the employment of the disabled was avoided during the crisis
Today, the bet seems to be held. Studies ? A brilliant student, Jérémie graduated from the Inseec business school, where he himself founded the “Inschool”, the equivalent of Inseec junior. Trips ? He was able to go to “
Summer School
” in Los Angeles, then to Erasmus in Spain. "
We called on our network to set up a solidarity shared apartment in Valence
", explains Lucie. Simply. A passion ? Sportsman, Jérémie practices bodybuilding several times a week, accompanied by his roommates who struggle to keep up with the intense pace of training. A job ? The speech somewhat muddled, Jeremy explains hilariously to
Figaro
that he is "
happiness manager
»Within the audit firm Grant Thornton.
Does the job appeal to him?
“A
lot!
".
To see his immense smile and his sparkling gaze, there is no doubt that the young disabled person is successful in his mission.
On Saturdays, young people from the Fraterni'Team association accompany Jérémie for a race in Paris.
Fraterni'Team
Despite everything, Jérémie must be accompanied 24 hours a day. "
He can hardly do anything alone
", explain his roommates.
At the entrance to the apartment, a small pinnacle board, variegated with multiple colors, recalls everyone's tasks: Monday, Songül will take care of getting up, while Darlène will take care of dinner and bedtime.
On weekends, it's Léo who will be present.
Arrived a month ago, Songül, Jérémie's former comrade at Inseec, confides in
Figaro to
have been moved and intimidated to enter the privacy of his comrade. “
The first few days, I had tears in my eyes,
” she says. “
But he took it so naturally that it happened very quickly. In a few weeks, we have become like brother and sister
”. Sometimes a few small misunderstandings, impatience. "
It happens to me to give small rants,
" admits Jeremy, laughing. "
Especially in moments
of
incomprehension
", adds Songül, "
because at first I did not understand what he meant.
Now I completely forget about his handicap!
".
"
May our experience inspire others
"
From volunteer to volunteer, the initiative has become the Fraterni'Team association, which brings together some 660 subscribers on Facebook. All goodwill is welcome, whatever it is. Picnics are organized, visits to the museum, even marathons, with Jérémie installed in his disabled stroller. "
The association is the culmination of all this network that my parents have created over the years, to lend a hand, to exchange a service for any help
", explains Lucie Zeitoun. “
Since its creation, many people have contacted us, interested in the functioning of our association and the principle of inclusive colocation. This success touched us a lot
, ”reports Eulalia Zeitoun. "
We realized that many able-bodied people are just waiting for this: to give meaning to their life, to bring joy, to help a weaker one
”.
The mother puts all her energy into finding partnerships and making the system sustainable.
At the Ile-de-France regional health agency, a file has been submitted to approve “
inclusive
”
housing
and obtain subsidies.
Read also: Happy, the coffee that gives a chance to difference
“
The vocation of Fraterni'Team is to show that it is possible and that it works. We would love so much that our experience can inspire others!
". Because the Zeitoun family wonders: is it a coincidence that Jeremy, carried by these outbursts of solidarity, thwarts all possible and imaginable statistics concerning his illness?
