Solidarity: Civic Hour is being set up in Anglet

This Tuesday, August 12, the City of Anglet signed its membership to the "L'Heure civique" charter. This civic project, created in 2020, aims to strengthen solidarity by allowing volunteers to care for people in difficulty for at least one hour per month.

"If there is no solidarity between people, the model will collapse," warned Atanase Périfan, co-founder of L'Heure civique. The City of Anglet formalized its adherence to the "L'Heure civique" charter at the town hall on Tuesday, August 11. This citizen initiative was launched to encourage each resident to donate at least one hour per month to the community. This time can be dedicated to local solidarity initiatives, particularly for the elderly, isolated, or those in difficulty.

The program relies on local volunteering, with no strings attached, and a desire to strengthen social ties in neighborhoods and communities. It is aimed at both those who need help and those who want to get involved. Since its creation in 2020, five departments, 2,000 municipalities, and 20,000 members have joined L'Heure civique. Anglet Town Hall serves as a platform to bring together volunteers and people in need of assistance, thus connecting them.

Anglet is the first city in the department to sign the L'Heure civique agreement. "When the two founders came to see us, we were immediately enthusiastic," confides Claude Olive, mayor of Anglet. "This initiative is useful not only for people who need help, but also for those who want to help. There are just as many of them." By joining the program, Anglet becomes the largest city in the West to participate in this initiative. "Proximity is our idea of what local politics should be," boasts Claude Olive. "There is also a great deal of loneliness in the urban world, especially among the elderly. We will do our best to send people to the neighborhoods where they already live to strengthen this bond of proximity. This project must complement what is already being done in Anglet, avoiding mistrust and withdrawal."

"The question is how citizen generosity can irrigate public action," continues Atanase Périfan. "First launched in small towns, we have gradually expanded. As a heavyweight in the department, Anglet will be the locomotive that will drive all the other towns."

Karine has been involved in the Blancpignon neighborhood's community for several years. "This initiative is very interesting. I'm a childcare worker, so I've seen society change and people gradually become isolated. There's a real need for renewal." Sylvie, also a member, praises the need to give without getting anything in return. "I forgot I'd signed up. I have office hours, so it's difficult for me to be part of an association. But with this initiative, giving an hour of my time seems possible."

Corinne, another future volunteer, wants to reach out to people who suffer from loneliness. "I worked for fifteen years in the adult protection service. In addition, I have a project with some friends on intergenerational participatory housing. So I'm very aware of this cause."

Registration for future volunteers is open on the anglet.lheurecivique.fr platform.