a mobile plancha to share a meal with the homeless
With his mobile plancha hitched to his bike, this Toulousain goes out to meet the homeless to share a meal. More than offering food aid, the goal of Kamel Secraoui, founder of the Plancha social club association, is to create a real moment of conviviality, a warm break in their daily lives.
Equipped with a plancha equipped with wheels and hitched to a bicycle, Kamel Secraou crisscrosses Toulouse once a week. He thus sets out to meet the homeless in order to share a moment of conviviality with them. “The principle is simple: I stop and ask them if we can eat together. It’s me who treats! »He explains. Rather abrupt as an introduction from an illustrious stranger. But the process works: “Even if some people are suspicious at first, they generally allow themselves to be convinced and appreciate the moment”, specifies the apprentice cook.
The power of the plancha
And it’s usually the plancha that breaks the ice. “What did you do to tinker with this?” What are we going to eat? How do you cook this or how do you cook that? »A simple stainless steel plate thus becomes a socialization tool. Once the dialogue has opened, it is a strong moment of sharing that begins. “We discuss everything and nothing over a meal, the very definition of warm weather,” notes Kamel Secraoui. And in the opinion of the beneficiaries, “it makes a difference to triangle sandwiches!” “
The Good Samaritan thus achieves the objective that he sets for himself each time he gets on his “ plancha bike ”: to offer the most disadvantaged a bubble of benevolence, a suspended moment of conviviality. An idea that he has matured since the first confinement, in April 2020. “Everyone complained of being locked up. Personally, I enjoyed this period. I liked spending time with my family, being warm, ”recalls Kamel Secraoui, believing that“ people don’t know how to see happiness where it is! “
The desire to share
Forced vacations, in the company of his children, whom he spent baking cakes, Organizing games… Moments that he knew how to savor, knowing that confinement was not experienced by everyone in the same way . “While we were confined inside, others were verbalized because they were outside, without having the choice”, indignant Kamel Secraoui. “I then wanted these homeless people to also know the good times that I shared with my family … especially around the plancha”, he continues.
So, with some fresh vegetables, a bottle of olive oil, spices and meat or fish, bought the same morning, out of his own pocket, the amateur cook tries to reproduce this warm atmosphere. The raw material can also come from inventors of business friends, or from generous donations of knowledge. It can thus prepare meals for ten people per week.
A Good Samaritan better known than it seems …
But there is not enough time and arrangements to ensure a sufficient number of tours. To be able to call on donations and possible volunteers ready to take over or strengthen the pace, Kamel Secraoui has created an association, called Plancha social club. He thus hopes to develop his concept so that many more homeless people can benefit from it. The latter are starting to know, and even to ” track ”, its mobile plancha, mainly near Saint-Aubin.
Because a relationship of trust begins to develop. Especially since Kamel Secraoui is not content to cook them food. On the association’s Facebook page, it presents each of them, at least those who want it. “I tell their story, I pass messages to them if they are looking for a job, an internship for their children, or if they just want a means of expression,” he explains. He thus shares his good humor, his generosity… and his network. Because if his comrades for a day lack recognition, he is full of it. If the former are used to anonymity, Kamel Secraoui is well known to many Toulouse residents. First of all thanks to his achievements of atypical urban furniture, through his agency KLD Design, but above all… through his graffiti, which he signs with his nickname: Chat Maigre.