In Lyon, republican sponsorship ceremonies to support refugees
On the occasion of the International Migrants Day this Saturday, around twenty sponsorship ceremonies were organized in Lyon.
“There are links that are created, friendships that are forged”. On the occasion of the International Migrants Day this Saturday, several republican sponsorship ceremonies were held in Lyon. These symbolic ceremonies aim to welcome refugees, including within families.
Sadio, originally from Guinea, has fled his country for 4 years. The young man, who found refuge with a couple, Renaud and Catherine, who became his foster family. A link that was highlighted during a sponsorship ceremony. “It touches me a lot. They gave me a lot of things, they always encouraged me. Thank God, I met them, they are important to me,” says Sadio at the microphone of BFM Lyon.
“We are happy that you are with us”
For his host family, it is “the continuation of something that has existed from the start with a very strong relationship that has been forged with Sadio”.
“This is something that continues and is now fully established,” explains Catherine. Currently, Sadio is studying to obtain a bodywork CAP, accompanied by his new godfather and godmother.
In total, during this day, around twenty sponsorship ceremonies took place in Lyon. For Sylvie Tomic, deputy mayor of Lyon, responsible for reception and hospitality, “it is a way of highlighting these commitments and of saying to these exiled people, ‘we are happy that you are with us. ‘”.
Ultimately, these ceremonies, organized in several cities in France, will have to be organized on a regular basis.