Recently, we told you about Giving Tuesday , this world day of solidarity which takes place on November 29. In our article 10 solidarity actions for Giving Tuesday , we shared ideas for simple gestures to help in your own way.
On this day of mutual aid, the Meanwhile Boutique team decided to get involved. Last October, Manon, Orlane and Sandra browsed the “Je Veux Aider” site to find an action close to their values . During their research, they were touched by the commitment and missions of Paris en Compagnie , a Parisian association which fights against the isolation of seniors .
After a telephone conversation with members of this organization, the team spent an afternoon working with elderly people as part of Giving Tuesday .
This article tells you about their meeting with Claudie and Christiane, two elders from Paris en Compagnie .
The action of Orlane and Sandra: an afternoon with Claudie
For 2 hours, our community manager, Orlane , and our editorial content manager, Sandra , took care of Claudie , an 85-year-old visually impaired elder. After a short stroll through the streets of her neighborhood, the three of them discussed culture, the good old days and listened to Claudie's good advice, over a drink in a tea room in Convention, in the 15th arrondissement of Paris.
Orlane, Claudie and Sandra at the tea room © Meanwhile Boutique
“I had never volunteered before and it was a great experience. Claudie is really very nice and I had a good time. ”
-Sandra
-Sandra
“I loved sharing an afternoon with Claudie! A meeting rich in emotion, sharing and good humor. Claudie had a thousand and one stories to tell us about her youth, her work and her little Parisian life in general. She showed us a remarkable memory, which particularly impressed me. It was a very enriching experience and I recommend everyone to participate in this type of action”
-Orlane
-Orlane
Manon's action: an afternoon with Christiane
On the other side of the borough, Manon , the founder of Meanwhile Boutique , accompanied Christiane , 86 years old, to her optician to collect her glasses. Then, they stopped at a small grocery store to taste Pastéis de Nata, small Portuguese pastries, with quite original tastes. For Manon, it was the first time she tasted a raspberry pastel de nata!
Manon and Christiane at the Pastéis de Nata grocery store © Meanwhile Boutique
“Christiane was very friendly, very sociable and very happy, it was a real pleasure. It would be a pleasure to spend an afternoon with her again.”
- Manon
What is Paris en Compagnie?
Paris en Compagnie was launched in January 2019 by Paris City Hall, wishing to combat the isolation of elderly people and establish a free support system for these people . This project was supported by 3 Parisian structures providing assistance to seniors, notably Les Petits Frères des Pauvres , Autonomie Paris Saint-Jacques and Lulu dans ma rue .
The association offers 3 support systems . For leisure , this involves walks in the neighborhood, cultural outings to the museum, leisure clubs or going for a drink with the older child. There is medical support which allows the person to be accompanied during an appointment with their GP, their physiotherapist, etc. Finally, there is the administrative support which allows him to be taken to the town hall of his district or to his polling station.
Anyone can become a volunteer at Paris en Compagnie . The only obligation: be of legal age. Everyone commits according to their availability . However, before starting their first action via the Paris en Compagnie application, each volunteer participates in an information meeting on Zoom during which a member of the association presents the system. Then, everyone has access to all requests and can begin their first support .
Giving Tuesday reminds us that it is important to help each other. Whether it’s half an hour, 1 hour, 2 hours… Giving a little of your time doesn’t cost much. Just a few minutes can brighten a person's day. So, let’s be generous!
The Meanwhile Boutique team was delighted to have spent time with Claudie and Christiane.
Thank you to Paris en Compagnie for their initiative and their commitment to our seniors.
And what was your gesture for Giving Tuesday? Tell us in the comments 👇🏼
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