In Fréjus, art as a support to help reintegrate

Calming down, reintegrating, externalizing one's problems and suffering, and enhancing one's self-esteem: the residents of the "Promosoins" and "Logivar Estérel" associations of the Union Diaconale du Var have put their heart and soul into creating around fifty paintings, models, sculptures, installations and jewelry, which they are exhibiting in the premises of the Maison Saint-Honorat in Fréjus.

On the theme of the four seasons, everyone became an artist, imagining colorful compositions, origami, objects, with recycled materials, during the art therapy sessions which take place on Wednesdays throughout the year.

Afternoons offered to around thirty people, asylum seekers from “Logivar” and destitute sick people, often taken off the streets, on the road to recovery, from “Promosoins”.

"It's not about drawing classes or painting lessons, but about resocializing. We're here to create, with the goal of expressing ourselves ," explained Sandrine Senis, art therapist. "We cultivate imagination, concentration, interpersonal skills, knowing how to listen to others, speaking while channeling ourselves. And I work on strengthening mother-child bonds. Art therapy develops self-confidence, team spirit, and peaceful exchanges. Those who are spectators become active, and those who don't dare to speak start to discuss."

Developing self-confidence

"Art therapy helps prevent isolation for those who live in accommodation provided as part of their asylum application or in therapeutic coordination apartments," said Mathilde Tessier, director of Logivar.

"People in extreme poverty supported by Logivar can thus meet each other. Asylum seekers who do not speak French, women who find themselves in an unfamiliar environment, manage to express themselves through drawing. Everyone learns to communicate calmly," she continued.

And the association's president, Christian Viton, honorary prefect, adds: "Art therapy is the best way to talk about yourself without saying 'I'. That's what our audiences need: to be able to show what they feel without fear of putting themselves forward. We seek to create connections between individuals, but also between individuals and social groups. That's what corresponds to what we want in terms of integration. A peaceful and smooth reintegration."

"We started the therapeutic coordination apartments with four places in 2005. And twenty years later, we have 14," emphasized the president of Promosoins, Danielle Dargon, a dental surgeon. "The beneficiaries are supported by educational and social companions because they have to relearn hygiene, housekeeping, and cooking. We help them regain their rights because they no longer have social security. In twenty years, we have many more people with mental health problems. They can come regularly to the library where numerous workshops provide support for exchanges."

“I meet nice people, it feels good.”

Between the impressive models of the beach, the ski slope, the port and its majestic lighthouse, the paintings, the exotic lamps... the talents were revealed. The creators surprised themselves with their success.

Like Abdel, who confides: "My health problems are significant and I was referred to Promosoins, which put together a file and provided me with a therapeutic coordination apartment. I've been there for six months and I'm doing better even though I still have pain. I come to every workshop, art therapy, memory, board games and the shared gardens. I even signed up for French classes at Epafa. I meet people, I discover very kind people. In art therapy, I learn things, it's fun and very enjoyable. It does me good. I was very depressed and I'm finding my morale again with this wonderful group."