- Seamstresses work together to create masks which will be distributed free of charge.
- The initiative is led by the association Des Femmes en fil, in Bellevue.
- It is the city of Nantes that pays for the fabric, the thread and the elastic.
Orange, yellow, blue, light green ... The colors are rather bright, the patterns varied. The finishes are neat and systematically checked before packaging. "It's not because it's distributed for free that it should be sad and badly damaged," explains Farida. Color is energy. And we really need it right now. Since mid-April, there has been excitement in the premises of Femmes en fil. This Nantes integration association, located in the heart of the popular Bellevue district, is the epicenter of a huge network of volunteers mobilized for the manufacture of cloth masks, washable and reversible.
More than 25 local associations, bringing together nearly 200 seamstresses, work around the same objective: deliver 15,000 masks in one month. All intended for precarious people. An initiative that perfectly illustrates these solidarities that have flourished everywhere in France in recent weeks.
"Beyond our expectations"
"We wanted to act because we saw that there was a need for masks," explains Aïcha Boutaleb, president of the association and herself struck by the Covid at the end of March. We activated our contacts, the city of Nantes decided to support us by funding the fabric, and it snowballed beyond our expectations. We have already made 10,000! That's wonderful. "
Most of the volunteers come from social housing districts. “These are people who have sewing as a hobby, retired seamstresses, or professionals who are no longer working at the moment. We even received help from Syrian refugees whose job it was. They are very precious. Others, like Issa and Daniel, know nothing about sewing but come every day to lend a hand. "We cut rubber bands, we prepare packages," says Issa, an asylum seeker. It's normal to participate. Faced with this crisis, we are all concerned. In addition, there is a good atmosphere. "
"There is a strong expectation"
The beneficiaries are homeless, migrants, job seekers, students in difficulty. "For distribution, we go through the associations that know them best," says Aïcha Boutaleb. Their mission is also to explain how to put on the mask properly and behave with it. But the other day, I distributed more than 50 directly in the neighborhood. Once I also went to a squat, another time with Travelers. We always receive great thanks. Clearly, there is a strong expectation. "
“The State has shown amateurism in the management of masks, is convinced Farida Abid, director of Femmes en fil. All these policemen and gendarmes that we saw in the streets without masks, it was irresponsible. Fortunately, the associations and the communities are there. But we are not trying to divide. We have set a target of 15,000 masks, we are working hard to reach it. That's all that matters at the moment. "
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