Reportage
Mayotte: how to fight against precariousness, school drop-out and lack of perspective for young people
Audio 01:14
Confrontations between villagers and security forces in the village of Vahibé, near Mamoudzou on November 28, 2022. (Illustrative image) AFP - GREGOIRE MEROT
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In Mayotte, the situation remains precarious.
At the end of the week, a dozen young people broke into a high school in Sada, in the west of the island, creating a movement of panic among the students.
On Friday, rival bands from two villages south of Mamoudzou clashed, for unknown reasons.
Rivalry between gangs, lack of prospects, precariousness, massive immigration, the violence is multifactorial, but several actors on the ground and residents are mobilizing to change this.
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With our correspondent in Mamoudzou
,
Lola Fourmy
We are in Doujani, a district of Mamoudzou, where a
young man was killed with a machete in November
.
Amadi, aged 20, tells how he arrived from the Comoros 18 years ago, he did all his schooling here before finding himself stuck: “
I already have the BTS but I don't have my papers.
So I can't move, I can't get out of here, it's a hassle...
"
This year in the town of Mamoudzou, capital of Mayotte, some 1,000 children are out of school due to lack of space.
To fight against idleness and dissociability, the Espoir et Réussite association has launched several actions in the district.
"
We can't talk about fighting crime when we haven't even tackled the issue of prevention yet,
we
explains Ahmed Idam, director of the association
.
This is why we have set up a reception system for those who have not attended school so that they can maintain a minimum level of schooling.
»
The school of #civics of the hope and success association of #Doujani in the commune of #Mamoudzou, for a better integration.
For those who drop out of school, it's like a second chance school.
pic.twitter.com/7JJ3GPivp7
— Mayotte the 1st (@mayottela1ere) October 10, 2020
►
To read also:
In Mayotte, Gérald Darmanin is considering places of "recovery" for juvenile offenders
Create new schools and mentor out-of-school youth
Ismaeli comes home from work.
After years of dealing drugs, he quit when his son was born.
He tries to dissuade the youngest whom they see sinking: "
When I talk to them, they say to me: you are fine, you have a job... Whereas in fact I am in the same situation, but with a small job.
It's so sad.
»
Here, 60% of the population is under 25 years old.
Youth care seems unavoidable and urgent.
The mayor of Mamoudzou proposes to release 400 million euros over 10 years to create new schools.
The Hope and Success association, which supports 100 young people with the out-of-school system, has also opened a social center and a parents' house where they can come and learn the language free of charge.
Several mediators are working on the ground to try to ease
tensions
.
►
Also to listen:
Situation still tense in Mayotte: "At one point, we said 'stop'" and decided to leave
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