OWe often talk about MJCs when they are going badly. It’s unfair but it reflects their mission: thankless, far from the glitter, on harsh terrain, with modest means. The approximately one thousand youth and culture centers, planted throughout France, are at the heart of what we call popular education: helping to build citizens, particularly through creation.
There is one, from MJC, coupled with a social center, in the difficult Monnaie district, in Romans-sur-Isère (Drôme). Aimed largely at French secondary school students with immigrant backgrounds, its name is the Noël-Guichard citizen house. Its role is to be one with the neighborhood. So, she found herself associated with the tragedy of Romans, when nine young people, mostly from this city, were indicted after a violent fight on November 18, during which Thomas, 16, died of stabbing. Ten days later, discussing the violence at La Monnaie, BFM-TV displayed images of the MJC.
The managers of this house, whom we contacted, knew well that this was not to talk about a music or cooking workshop. But to know why they closed their doors from November 24 to 29, the staff having invoked their ” right of withdrawal “. Why does a sociocultural site close when the neighborhood needs it most?
To protect staff. Also secure a house caught between “some ultraviolent young people from the neighborhood” and “nazillons outside”. Incidents have in fact multiplied for some time: an employee attacked, another receiving a stone on the head, a fire breaking out in front of the MJC, a stone thrown… During the riots in France in July, the director of the MJC had to rush in the evening to protect the building. In 2019, three rooms were destroyed by arson – the library, the public writer’s office and an activity room.
The director of the MJC, Nour El Houda Boukhari, is a local child. On November 25, on BFM-TV, she clumsily gave the impression of putting “a young person who left” And “young people from the neighborhood who are also victims and stigmatized”. Appearing on screen with a keffiyeh around his neck didn’t help. Especially today. She received death threats.
“A lack of consideration”
Mayor since 2014, Marie-Hélène Thoraval (various right) denounces “wildness” of the Mint, tensing its inhabitants, but without scratching the MJC. Moreover, relations between the two parties are rather correct but on the alert. Shortly after her election, the mayor cut the subsidy from 30% to 40%, which is enormous. Since then, the money has been the same, which corresponds to a decrease. The MJC deplores a lack of consideration. The city, for its part, recognizes that this MJC and its fifteen employees are doing a good job, for example the operation “Aux arts nationaux”, which will take place on December 20 and which is part of in-depth work on the memory of the city.
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