"Everyone arrives with suitcases of varying weight": at the Saint-Maximin recycling center, souls are also repaired

Jessim and Rachid are fed up. Clothes, linens, bags, and other fashion accessories. They, along with three other employees of the La Courtoise recycling center in Saint-Maximin, receive and sort donations, stock the store, and manage the inventory. It's no small feat considering the ten tons that arrive each month on Chemin de Bonneval.

Jessim, 20, and Rachid, 40, are among the 200 people the association supports on average each year toward professional stability. To help them, a team of social workers pushes back barriers, removes obstacles, and provides valuable support that often, even always, crosses the border into the private sphere.

The essential link for a return to employment

Here, a sports bag. There, a leather jacket. Beneath the overflowing pallets, the racks fill with hangers hung with t-shirts, sweaters, and pants. Deep inside the recycling center, an average of five employees take turns sorting the tons of clothing that arrive at the Saint-Maximin site each month. The textiles dropped off at the Brignoles branch will also end up there.

This is where everything happens under the watchful eye of Gaëlle Rouffo. She is a supervisor and oversees the smooth running of the new textile center, which opened in April 2024. "I listen to each employee's concerns," she explains. "If necessary, I can refer them to their socio-professional support worker (ASP)."

There are two ASPs: one in Saint-Maximin, the other in Brignoles. Two for about 200 people. The division is quickly made. About a hundred each. Needless to say, the days are very full, considering the work carried out at the recycling center over the past ten years.

Cindy Jouy is one of the support workers. Sitting on the edge of her chair, ready to get back to work, she takes a five-minute break. Her job is to remove obstacles to a return to work for people in difficulty, who are generally very far from employment. This is the mission of the integration projects. They are divided into different areas on both sites: bicycle repair, small and large household appliances, books, woodworking, etc.

"It's a support job. It allows the beneficiaries to acquire skills ," explains Cindy. "But it's mainly about re-appropriating the codes of work, that is to say the rhythm, the schedules, the etiquette. Sometimes, notifying them of their absence is complicated, simply because they haven't learned how to do it."

Difficult life paths

People are referred to the resource center by referral agencies (France Travail, the Local Mission, the Garrigue association, etc.) based on various criteria. Long-term job seekers, RSA recipients, single parents, those living on the streets, those released from prison, or those in situations of social vulnerability... "Everyone arrives with suitcases of varying weight."

To help them, the ASPs also offer workshops. They are led by a trainer. "They work on self-esteem, confidence, and stress management. Others are more focused on job search techniques, refresher courses, and French lessons." This is the case for Rachid, who speaks Spanish with Gaëlle. He arrived only two months ago. He used to be a care assistant and would love to overcome the language barrier to find work in the same sector.

"The goal is for them to leave us with either professional stability or a training project." To achieve this, during their contract, they can do different internships, discover professions, try things out, explore. This is what Jessim has been doing for about a year. "I've participated in internships in green spaces, sales. I'd like to try delivery. There's a good atmosphere here. There are a lot of young people, we get along well," he says.

Stories with happy endings

Many young people, yes, "but because we work very well with the Local Mission ," Cindy says. "What is certain is that young people are really suffering psychologically. They are also very sensitive." This is precisely one of the obstacles that the resource center team is trying to overcome. They are not alone; support is always available, especially when it comes to addiction problems.

"I'm not able to treat them ," Cindy admits. "But I can direct them to structures like the Addiction Care, Support and Prevention Center. It's clear that someone who encounters this type of problem cannot stay employed."

When it comes to housing issues, the ASPs and supervisors help them with their approach. "Some people really need to feel supported because they no longer have the strength to fight." Antoine ⁽¹⁾ was around forty when he arrived. "He didn't have much professional experience, and he lacked confidence. We worked on coaching. He followed a training course and now has a permanent contract." There are plenty of examples like this. "That's why we continue to believe in it."

1. The first name has been changed.