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Dynamo international is at the initiative and coordinates this actual platform of international solidarity for street educators.
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Newsletter
Conversations with street educators in Prague II
1 August 2011On this occasion, Philippe Roux, CNLAPS and Michelle Vilain, ICAR Wallonie, discuss their work and the challenges street workers face up to. These conversations took place at a meeting of European Coordinators of Dynamo International Street Workers Network held on March 30, 2011 in Prague, where we discussed different aspects of the work of street educators over a cup of coffee.
I would like you to introduce yourselves: Who are you? And what do you do?
Philippe Roux (France): I am an educator and manager of a team of street workers in a city of the urban community of Bordeaux called Pessac. This team is arbitrated by an association called Loi 1901 and is funded by the Department of Gironde, in the framework of Specialized Prevention and Social Welfare for Children. We work with young people between the ages of 13 and 25.
Michelle Vilain (Belgique): We work in an organization that deals with people who are prostituted on the streets or work in the "salons": girls who prostitute in shop windows.
What are the main problems faced by the people you help?
Philippe: We work especially in those neighborhoods we call “social habitat neighborhoods”, where we find young people from families who are struggling for housing, employment, and other basic necessities. These young people are faced with difficulties in their social integration. Our work consists of delivering support, connecting them to protective opportunities, talking to them... Our guidance actions are aimed to help young people and provide them with hopes for a brighter future.
One problem, currently much more visible, is the issue of mental health. It is taking a prominent position today because society does not hold barriers anymore. The economic system forces a lack of jobs, schools struggle to contain their students. The overall situation today makes it extremely difficult to keep a cool attitude. Life is full of challenges and those who should help the teenagers, their parents, also face many challenges, and that has its consequences... it is the social situation that has changed. Now people are free in themselves, without a community around them, without stability. And this brings up certain psychological symptoms.
Michelle: Most of the people we work with are multiple drug consumers (heroin, cocaine) and find themselves excluded from society, without a home, income or insurance... Working with these people, our aim is to bring some order to these aspects of their lives, a complicated issue when drugs are present. In these cases, prostitution is not a choice. In the case of girls who are exposed in shop windows the situation is slightly different. In general, they are there as a result of economic debts, for example. Although they can earn much money, they are unable to manage it properly. Issues related to children are as well present.
What educational practices do you think should be promoted to better face the problems you encounter?
Philippe: I think that, now, it is quite interesting to find solutions that lead to a collective support. Bringing back the community into those people's lives. The current illness we’re facing up to is an extreme individualism and the current economic system. Uniting people, expressing solidarity... those things are lacking today. We try to live life on our own, watching others from a distance. So therefore, young people are confused. It is the malady of the century. We need to unite people, add some real sense to the lives of people in their own areas, to give back some meaning to life. We can use, for example, football to this end; we can promote exchanges, etc. But it is necessary to return to the group.
Michelle: I think there is a serious problem linked to the environment. Over 60% of revenues are to meet this need. It is necessary to generate proper policies to address this issue. In terms of prostitution, I think we need to change the law – a law created in 1949 and that puts many obligations on prostitutes and grants very few rights. The association I belong to is working on the revision of the law, trying to give a proper status to these people. We believe this will not solve all of their difficulties, but it may improve their lifestyle.
How does Dynamo International Street Workers Network support you?
Philippe: The network gives me different viewpoints, new educational models for work. What is interesting is that you can analyze the situations others face with a respectful viewpoint but with a critical approach. As we try to share our reflections we learn, and thus we can reinvent our work.
Michelle: I think it is important on two levels. Personally, I learn a lot with the considerable amount of people and countries that make up the network. For our association, it is also a recognition of our work.
What are, on your opinion, the challenges faced by those street educators which you represent?
Philippe: The challenge is to prevent loneliness and excessive individuation from getting installed in our neighborhoods. We do not want to leave people on the roadside. Especially young people, since they are our future.
Michelle: There must be a recognition of street workers, a defined status, a code of ethics and a methodology defined. What scares me is the possibility that street work in Europe takes an increasing “security approach”, which clearly conflicts with the way we see things. I think if we get a proper recognition of street work we could get out of this system where the security viewpoint seems to be prevalent. The network must be alert to this aspect.
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