Domestic violence: three students behind emergency kits for victims

BTSA students at Oustal, in Villeneuve-sur-Lot, have created a collection that they hope will continue. The Women's House will benefit from it.

The educational kits to combat bullying at school , launched in 2024 by students at the private agricultural school L'Oustal in Villeneuve-sur-Lot, have attracted attention. Laurina Gueusquin, Clara Cichochi and Ninon Weisser, all three also students in the BTSA development and animation of territorial projects (DATR), have, as part of their course, developed a project for women who are victims of domestic violence. "These are emergency suitcases containing essential hygiene products so that they don't find themselves without anything when they leave their homes in a hurry," explains Laurina.

"As part of the school project, there were imposed or free themes. I offered to help the women," says Clara. "We got an appointment at the Women's House." It is to this activist association, which carries out most of its missions in the shadows, that the suitcases will be delivered.

To fill them, "we launched a collection. Here, at Oustal, but also at Sainte-Catherine, at the nursing school, and at the ADMR in Fumel," Clara explains. The result almost exceeded the three young women's expectations: "We're short of containers, bags, and suitcases, but we received a lot of products."

The assortment gathered allows women seeking discreet shelter to see things through, and doesn't forget the children who are often caught up in these shelters. In total, nearly forty of these kits are ready to be distributed, with the collection ending this week, at the same time as exams begin. "It's a project that can continue in the coming years, that can grow in strength. We've met a lot of people for this important cause. We were even contacted by a town hall thanks to the QR code on our posters... We've had direct discussions with many people, everyone is interested..."

Contact via Instagram: @bts_oustal.