- Since March 17, 3,000 students, according to Crous, have been confined to the largest campus in Bordeaux.
- In full confinement linked to the Covid-19 epidemic, they suffer from isolation and greater insecurity.
- Collective citizen, but also the Crous and the Health space of the University of Bordeaux multiply the initiatives and the emergency devices to "let no student suffer from confinement" and hunger.
In recent days, on the Pessac campus, the Student Health Center has “doubled” its hotlines. At the end of the phone, a lot of calls from “anxious” and even “psychological distress” students. Since March 17, the start of confinement linked to the Covid-19 epidemic, nearly 3,000 students, according to Crous, would be isolated on the largest campus in Bordeaux. In this mini-city bordered by vineyards and the ring road, Resto U, cafet 'and student associations are closed and, between two large amphis today abandoned, we only meet masked students, without classes or looking for food .
“Since we opened the emergency line *, we have received more than 180 calls from very demanding students. Young people in stress and psychological distress or others who simply need to speak to our nurse, ”explains Anne-Cécile Rahis, assistant director of the Student Health Center, to 20 Minutes . Among them, Jessica **, 22 years old. "That day, I only spoke to this person on the phone. Frankly, it's hard. I am alone, far from my friends and I don't even have enough to go shopping, ”says the young sociology student, trapped in her 9 m2.
Distribution of packages filled with essential products
On campus, there is also Ismaël, a doctoral student in law in Bordeaux, who could not return to Côte d'Ivoire. The young man met by an AFP colleague was a temporary worker and no longer has a mission. "I do with the little I have," he says, that is to say "60 to 70%" less in the portfolio. Like all the isolated students of the Bordeaux campus, Ismaël can today call for the help of volunteers from Solidarity-Food Continuity Bordeaux, a citizen collective mounted in "emergency" by union activists and which distributes parcels filled with basic necessities . In the boxes? Three kilos of starchy foods (rice, potatoes, etc.), for 800 grams of canned food, "pasta sauce", coffee, toothpaste, toilet paper or menstrual towels.
“The campus has been deserted. The students who stayed are those who were already in isolation. Foreigners, they were far from their family, family breakdown, they are now without their friends. Some, in great precariousness, no longer have their jobs today, explains Jérôme, founding member of the collective and teacher researcher in physics. In short, we feel useful with our packages. "
Proof of this is, since the distribution of the contact form by email and in the halls of the U cities, Solidarité-Continuitéimentaire Bordeaux is crumbling under requests, 840 in fifteen days for 700 parcels distributed. “Student insecurity was no secret. Normally, 20% of students live below the poverty line, we knew that during this funny period, it was going to get worse, ”notes Jérôme. So a week before confinement, the activist and his circle of fifteen experienced in the exercise launched the citizen collective. Everyone goes there with their own funds to raise up to 20,000 euros. But "it was not playable like that," says Jerome. A Leetchi kitty is launched. It accumulates, this Wednesday, more than 47,000 euros. A nice sum which does not reassure the volunteers who fear "not being able to hold out until the end of the confinement".
"Some students are confined with bedbugs"
And while waiting to be able to release this money, in the room loaned by the University of Bordeaux, the volunteers, all masked and passed to the disinfectant gel stage, are busy preparing the parcels. On the field, two other teams take turns to do the shopping and the distribution. The portage is done at the foot of the building, one student at a time. “At first, Crous and the university were rather reluctant to help us, today we have this place and other solidarity initiatives have been launched. It was essential, especially when you know that some are confined with bedbugs, "adds the co-founder of the collective, who claims that the Crous does not charge rents to all the students who remain confined.
A Crous which indicates in a press release that some 70,000 euros of aid "on social assessment" have been allocated to 500 students since confinement. Added to this is 60,000 euros in vouchers and the carrying of 200 food parcels. Since March 16, the social service has also coordinated the distribution of food and medication (on medical prescription) to students affected by the Covid-19.
Telephoning this young man every day who "really isn't doing well"
For its part, the University of Bordeaux has launched a system to, she says, "to deal with the most urgent situations". Students can request "assistance of 200 euros per month of confinement for basic needs" and / or 300 euros for the acquisition of a computer to continue training. The university is also said to have distributed around 100 Carrefour e-cards worth 50 euros.
Our file on containment
“We started with a standard line, we quickly moved to two, recalls Anne-Cécile Rahis. We have also reconsidered our healthcare offer. We had to adjust, coordinate our efforts to not let any student suffer during this confinement. The University's health center now offers medical teleconsultations, social assistance, psychological support, stress management workshops, but also special support for students who are at risk of suicide.
And on his social networks, he invites isolated students to call, to ask for support. "We have to be able to go and find these young people who have trouble asking for help," continues Anne-Cécile Rahis. Thanks to this solidarity, we can ensure that there is not the slightest hole in the racket. And to take the time to regularly call back these students suffering from Covid-19, or even to call every day this young man who "really is not doing well".
* 05.33.35.51.00.42 to urgently join the Student Health Center or 05.33.51.00.05 for all questions related to Covid-19.
** The first name was changed at the request of the person concerned.
Strasbourg
Coronavirus in Alsace: The food battle for precarious people
Bordeaux
Coronavirus in Bordeaux: How the Collage Féminicides group finds accommodation for women victims of violence
- Student
- University
- Aquitaine
- Covid 19
- Containment
- Coronavirus
- Bordeaux