In her solitary daily life in Saint-Jean-du-Gard, Josette, an octogenarian yet dynamic, finds valuable support from the Al Sourel association. Between solidarity meals, visits to the elderly and booming projects, the young Cévennes structure builds links in the Gard valleys, while instilling warmth and solidarity where isolation is most difficult.
“In my house, I do everything by myself. And I even drive!” Josette Couture-Brieu, who will celebrate her 88th spring on April 29, displays great autonomy. But also great isolation. In her pretty home near Saint-Jean-du-Gard, “There's only the postman who comes, explains Gisèle Geoffray, secretary of the Al Sourel association, visiting Josette that day, with the treasurer Simone Blanc. But he puts the mail in the box and that's it.”
Certainly the octogenarian uses his car. But just for short trips to the village, during the day.
The solidarity meal, among the shelves of Al Sourel
Family-wise, widowed since 2022, “with two daughters, a son and two granddaughters, one a student in Paris and the other who works at the Saint-Etienne hospital”, Josette has few visitors. “It's not like when I accompanied my husband to dialysis three times a week, for twelve years, in Nîmes at the beginning then in Alès.”
Suffice to say that the solidarity meal organized on December 14 by Al Sourel, “Au soleil” in Occitan, was a beautiful ray of light for Josette. “It was magnificent! And what's more, we found a little gift prepared by the school children on each plate.”
Because visits to isolated seniors are not the only actions of the association, in Saint-Jean-du-Gard and its valleys.
Josette Couture-Brieu, soon to be 88, alongside Gisèle Geoffray (right) and Simone Blanc (left), among the founders of Al Sourel. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE
“Without encroaching on the missions of other structures, we are in addition”
On the small road back to the village, along the Gardon and its banks ploughed by wild boars, Gisèle Geoffray details the making-of: “This solidarity meal brought together 90 guests. We carried out the project, mobilizing everyone: the Protestant Churches, the Catholic Church, the Salvation Army, the Restos du Cœur, the town hall with the Oustal sociocultural center and the CCAS. And even the children from nursery and primary schools, who made cards offered to each guest”, enthuses the volunteer, among the founders of Al Sourel.
“It was a real success”, punctuates Simone Blanc, also at the origin of the recent creation of Al Sourel, with Florence Aubaret, the president.
“We had formed a good team for the Telethon, says the latter. So, without giving up our contribution to these national causes, we said to ourselves that being united in an independent association would also allow us to have financial autonomy, for broader actions.”
Thus Al Sourel was born last February, with the stated desire to actively participate in local solidarity. “But without encroaching on the missions of structures such as the CCAS, the ADMR or Présence verte, continues Florence Aubaret. We are also there to complement and help.”
Florence Aubaret: “It all started with a small group of volunteers determined to help the elderly.” Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000More than 80 people visited last year
Josette, neither dependent nor in a critical situation, is an example of the work that the association does with the elderly. “We visited 81 people in Saint-Jean last year,” says Gisèle Geoffray. “And the Monalisa approval will allow us to develop this form of support.” Of the 39 members of Al Sourel, 12 have already followed this training (read below). At the same time, the association wants to develop games afternoons for seniors or even outings in the summer. The program should take shape at the general meeting on January 31. “Let's get started: everything is very open!”, says the president.
However, the main points are emerging: the continuation of the garage sales (two per year), guided tours of the village (paid, at €5), lotteries, raffles… “There is also the sewing group which is doing well, with creations sold at markets for the benefit of the association”, specifies Florence Aubaret.
Actions which will also allow us to continue supporting three disabled people, two children and a young adult, who received lovely Al Sourel vouchers for Christmas. “And beyond that, in case of special needs, we have great possibilities for mobilization and action!”
Visits always for two: Simone Blanc (left) with Gisèle Geoffray, that day at Josette's. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE
The Monalisa network, a bright smile for 2 million seniors in France
In the heart of old Saint-Jean-du-Gard, it was at Fougassette's, a café with a high reputation in the Saint-Jean zinc world, that the following afternoon the driving forces of Al Sourel.
In a cuckoo fashion, the group occupies a small adjoining room, the headquarters of the local motorsport association. A heated shed and welcoming (especially if you appreciate the aesthetics of the plates and car racing combinations!) that Al Sourel will use in particular to organize afternoons of rummy.
Around the president Florence Aubaret, are gathered 8 of the 12 members of Al Sourel who have obtained Monalisa approval, including the secretary Gisèle Geoffray and the treasurer Simone White.
“During two days of training, explains Gisèle Geoffrey, we were é made aware of good behavior towards the elderly, according to a charter of good conduct."
No health indications, "above all a psychological approach, continues Simone Blanc, to share a éstate of mind, knowing how to listen and remain discreet."
A national network of 900 teams
Created more than ten years ago, the national associative network Monalisa (MObilisation NAtionale contre L’Isolement des Âgés), aims to combat the loneliness of seniors in an unprecedented partnership between civil society and public authorities. In 2024, Monalisa will have involved 2 million people over 60 in France, through 900 "écitizen teams" of volunteers.
The Monalisa-Gard cooperation (1), created in July 2021, thus brings together several local authorities, social actors and charitable associations in the department. It also constitutes a sort of call center, capable of relaying needs by territory to its local contacts.
The instructions for use
But how can we reproduce an initiative such as Al Sourel close to home ? "Everything starts with a small group of volunteers determined to help the elderly,says Florence Aubaret. It is important to agree on the project. The next step is to contact existing local organizations: town hall, CCAS, local and departmental associations and structures. Then, for our part, we asked an organization to create our statutes voluntarily. Finally comes the Monalisa step. All this represents a full-time job for three months! But it is worth it.”
(1) www.monalisagard.com. Tel. 07 68 79 20 59.
I subscribe to read more