meeting with the creator of solidarity neighbors

In this period of trouble, health crisis and doubt about the next day, a wind of solidarity is raised. Good news for Atanase Périfan, the creator of "Solidarity neighbors". Meet.

To cope with this "health war", France can count on … its citizens, themselves. Forget the images of broken supermarkets and watch the humanity that emerges from distress. "Solidarity neighbors"is the perfect example. The association, which is behind the Neighbors' Day, is mobilizing in response to the epidemic caused by the Coronavirus. Atanase Périfan, the creator of this beautiful collective, goes back in detail on the actions deployed and on the online publication of a free kit entitled "Coronavirus: what if we organize ourselves among neighbors?". Meet.

For the association, "the neighborhood becomes a precious and essential resource to ensure our seniors continuity of life. A neighbor in solidarity can do, at the same time, as his shopping, that of his elderly or disabled neighbor. He can, in scrupulously respecting the barrier rules, depositing her shopping on the mat, taking news from a distance or by phone, reassuring her … ".

Tell us about this free download kit: Coronavirus: what if we organize ourselves among neighbors? ".

Atanase Périfan: We empty the schools, we empty the businesses, we empty the living spaces… Everyone is confined to their home. So we thought of a kit. What is that ? It's very simple. The kit is a tool for organizing solidarity in buildings. An elderly person, who is not allowed to go out because it is dangerous, will not stop eating during the time of confinement! The neighbor thus becomes a strategic resource.

How to use it ?

Atanase Périfan : This kit is designed not to approach its neighbors, it avoids any physical contact but by keeping the link. First, there is a poster to put in his hall. Above you can read: "Who wants help with their shopping?" and "Neighbors' phone number". Second thing, the leaflet, which I put in all the mailboxes. On this paper, you can read: "Dear neighbor, facing the coronavirus, we can organize ourselves together, how can we help each other? I am Atanase, the neighbor of the 3rd, here is my phone number".
From there, we begin to build a network of supportive neighbors in the building.
Third thing, we have a neighbor sign. I also stick it in the entrance hall. On the latter, there are Post-it notes, with on one side the request "I need …", like "I need my medicines" for example. And on the other hand the request "I want to …", like "I'm ready to go shopping", for example too. And last tool, the neighbors directory.

Are the sanitary rules respected?

Atanase Périfan: In the kit there is a mini guide with 10 tips to respect. When I go shopping for Marceline, my old neighbor, I don't come to her apartment and I don't kiss her. I leave him the shopping bag on his doormat. I ring twice and go back three meters up the stairs. And I said to him: "Here are your errands, is everything all right?".
One can very clearly develop solidarity between neighbors without government directives being flouted. We can preserve the human and the sanitary.

How many people have downloaded the kit?

Atanase Périfan: We have exceeded 100,000 kits. I feel a wave of funds in a tsunami of solidarity. Magnificent things are happening in France, which reveal that there are deposits of generosity.

Do you have a "neighbor" anecdote to tell us?

Atanase Périfan : Yesterday, I went to the association and in the street I heard a woman's voice shouting: "Monique, it's shopping! Monique!". I turn around wondering what's going on. I see a thirties looking at a window, at the top of a building, which opens. And there, I see a little 90-year-old lady sticking her head out the window and guess what Monique did … She lowered a basket with a rope, so that the benevolent young woman would put her shopping in it. I took a picture of this scene and the young woman explained to me that the lady is so traumatized by the virus that even if she is her next door neighbor, she gives her the shopping in this way. I thought it was so cute that I sang a serenade to Monique, at the bottom of her building. All the neighbors were at their window and we had a good time of joy and human warmth.

Can confinement really strengthen living together?

Atanase Périfan: We see that in the tests, people get together. We're going to win the war against the coronavirus in two or three months. And, what will remain? Friendship, sharing and mutual aid. We have to ride this wave of solidarity so that it goes as far as possible and remains in time. Let’s not wait for these unhappy events to be united.

How do you sum up this period?

Atanase Périfan: It’s a difficult, anxiety-provoking and stressful time. Sometimes you wonder what's going on and yet there is the end of the tunnel there, with a glimmer of hope. Solidarity will take precedence over illness.

To download the kit, it's here: https://voisinssolidaires.fr/

They lend their accommodation to the requisitioned caregivers


Video by Juliette Le Peillet