Young people, refugees, unemployed mothers ... Ujumi, solidarity caterer for thirteen years

2021-11-27T06:05:41.742Z

The small business celebrates its birthday this Saturday. A time that she took advantage of to multiply her turnover by ten and help p

On its own, his CV could open the doors of the greatest Parisian palaces to him.

But it is in the suburbs, beyond the periphery, that Mélanie Divaret Cataldo, major of the promotion of the Higher School of French cuisine of Grégoire Ferrandi, chose to exercise her talents.

In Nanterre, this pasionaria of the social economy founded Ujumi, a solidarity catering restaurant where people in integration prepare and organize high-end meals and buffets.

A structure unlike any other which is celebrating its thirteenth anniversary this Saturday.

Cleber was able to earn multiple degrees and find a job

And in thirteen years, Ujumi, first baptized Sesame Planet 92, has helped people from all over the world: young people, refugees, mothers away from employment, all of whom went through the kitchen lab first installed in the Petit-Nanterre district before moving to the city of Anatole-France, opposite the university.

Read also The social and solidarity economy, an economic model that works

Cleber, a Brazilian who arrived in France without papers, is one of the precarious people to whom the solidarity caterer has come to the aid: “I stayed there for two years.

I was versatile, I worked in the kitchen, I made deliveries.

I learned a lot there and, thanks to them, I was able to prepare and pass my Bafa and my professional diploma in youth, popular education and sport.

»Diplomas which allowed Cleber to find a job within an association of Montargis.

“From the start, we have allowed the integration of around 200 people,” says the founder.

In the end, a return to work rate of over 75% "

Prestigious cocktails and meal distributions for the homeless

For these back-to-work employees who benefit from tailor-made support, Mélanie learns how to work with seasonal, local and organic products to prepare meals, sandwiches and buffets.

Dishes with flavors of "world cuisine" that the small eco-responsible company for everyone and delivers everywhere.

“We get contracts for receptions and cocktails at the National Assembly, the Senate, large companies and renowned foundations,” lists Mélanie.

We even got a quote from the Élysée.

“But at the same time, the social caterer is also struggling around the Stade de France and in the squats of Montreuil where, in 2020, he delivered nearly 25,000 meals to homeless people, in the midst of a health crisis.

A feat made possible thanks to funding obtained from the Fondation de France.

About twenty employees

Because Mélanie Divaret Cataldo's expertise is not limited to the stoves. The hyperactive young woman, promoted last January Knight of the Order of Merit, also excels in obtaining money and developing her business, as evidenced by her turnover increased in ten years, from 100,000 euros to 1 , 3 million euros. "In large part, my job is to find a solution to each problem that arises", summarizes the one who employs today, with her partner Christelle Deuchou, about twenty employees.

From the start of her crazy adventure, Mélanie manages to get a financial boost.

First with five Cigales clubs (Investors Club for an alternative and local management of solidarity savings) then with FinanCités, an investment fund of the PlaNet Finance Foundation, an international solidarity organization founded by Jacques Attali, which will pay him nearly 60,000 euros.

In search of godfathers and godmothers

If the sum allows her to acquire her first business, the tireless entrepreneur does not stop there.

It potash, cultivates its network, refines its knowledge of the mysteries of the social and solidarity economy and… succeeds again in raising funds.

Both with private foundations such as Vinci, Carrefour or Schneider Electric as well as with organizations of committed entrepreneurs such as Initiative France or France Active.

Proof of this determination to find funding, the structure was one of the very first to have obtained from Bpifrance a social and solidarity economy loan (Pess) of 20,000 euros.

“Let's say I'm not Coluche, laughs the person concerned.

And in the end, we are still looking for godparents.