“Everything we are going to do here is to rebuild Mayotte”: the association of Mahoran students in Montpellier is getting organized

Une cinquantaine d'étudiants mahorais a répondu présent à l'appel de l'AEMM. Florence Guilhem

The Association of Mahorais Students of Montpellier (AEMM 34) proposed, this December 22, a meeting in Montpellier, to organize aid here and on the island of Mayotte devastated by the passage of cyclone Chido, last December 14.

When asked how they are doing, the fifty or so Mahoran students who came to the AEMM meeting this Sunday remain silent. On the other hand, as soon as it comes to helping their island, questions and ideas come thick and fast. But collecting funds, food, materials or other things cannot be improvised. So rather than rushing headlong, “we must act intelligently and prudently“, says in the preamble Saifi Ambririki, former president of AEMM 34, an association of Mahoran students in Montpellier created in 1993.

The association proposes to organize its actions around two objectives: helping Mahoran students here (more than 250 in Montpellier and more than 500 in Hérault) and collections for Mayotte. In both cases, “we need to organize ourselves with the various overseas associations that are here and the associations in Mayotte, as well as with public and private partners“, recommends Saifi Ambririki.

Act here and now

With family support likely to be reduced after Hurricane Chilo, many Mayotte students are likely to find themselves in difficulty. To give them every chance of continuing their studies in the best possible conditions, the AEMM suggests that they apply to the Crous to obtain a rent freeze, appropriate financial aid and psychological support if necessary. The City of Montpellier and the universities will also be contacted to see what support they can provide.

At the same time, the association is proposing to organize a charity evening and other events with the support of overseas associations present in Montpellier in order to raise funds. The first will take place in mid-January in partnership with Mozaik Outre-Mer.

Helping Mayotte

To send funds, food, and probably later construction materials or other to Mayotte, the AEMM plans to contact local associations, which will ensure distribution to the population. The best way, according to her, to keep an eye on the good reception of what will be distributed on site. “We will also ask private actors on site such as, for example, wholesalers, to set up preferential rates on basic necessities“, explains Saifi Ambririki.

But to set all this up, the association needs students to get involved in communication, partnerships, project planning… “Everything we are going to do here is to rebuild Mayotte. So, we need you all“, concludes Inès Saidali, a volunteer at AEMM.

The offers of support are multiplying

While the overseas associations of Montpellier, including Mozaik Outre-Mer and Solidarité Dom-Tom, reacted immediately by contacting AEMM 34 to offer support and assistance, they were not the only ones. The associative café “Quartier généreux“ offered to organize a charity evening in its establishment in in favor of Mayotte. The SCUM (Montpellier University Combat Union), which is based at the Crous, also wants to provide its support and assistance to the Mahoran students of Montpellier, by supporting their requests to the institutions. The City of Montpellier has made a donation of 10,000 euros. Business leaders have also called to find out how to help. And, this Monday, a national day of mourning in tribute to the victims of cyclone Chido, the rector of the Montpellier Academy invites all staff to a moment of reflection, at 11 a.m., in the Soulages courtyard of the rectorate.

Association telephone number: 07 68 33 55 81
Email: secretariat@aem-montpellier.fr