Fight against racism and prejudices of youths; That’s the mission of the French Union of Jewish Students and the Club Convergence, an organisation gathering French people come from North African and African immigration.

A few months ago the two associations created a program untitled ‘Coexist’ and went to Jewish secondary schools to talk with pupils about racism.

“With Club Convergence’s members we realised thanks to education we can fight discriminations. So we decide to join and work together”, Yonathan Arfi, former president of UEJF said.

“It is necessary not to let some areas sink into ‘communautarisme' or communal fold. Demonstrating is not sufficient, we must fight against trivialization of racism and anti-Semitism,” Amar Dib, the president of Convergence, added.

The UEJF and Convergence’s mediators recently came together on a two day training course to learn about working together and talking about their identities. In each school they work in pairs.
 
Building bridges

In the first Coexist project Arielle Schwab, a UEJF mediator travelled to a college in a deprived area in Parisian Seine Saint-Denis suburbs.
“At the beginning, the students were mistrustful and tried to destabilize us. But after a while they began to identify with the mediator and they worked with us”.

Coexist in action in a French high school Photo: AFP

“They showed open-mindedness and were receptive when confronted with their own prejudices”.

In a Jewish school she visitied Arielle said she found the same trend
Nordine Dib, is mediator of the Club Convergence. He works with Schwab and told EJP of the astonishment he sometimes felt when hearing the words some pupils were using. He said that he believed there was no hatred in their words but that “they only repeat what they hear”.

Dialogue drawing

However, for Arielle and Nordine the slogan ‘don’t be racist’ is not enough. So what is the method? “Dialogue, writing, drawing, and crayons”.

Each session the mediators distribute sheets with words like ‘homosexuals, blacks, Jews, Arabs and every pupil has to write what they think next to. “After this, we and pupils talk, wonder and confront their opinion”.

In this work also humour is also there. Pupils saw two sketches of Smain, an Arab comedian and Woody Allen.
 

It is necessary not to let some areas sink into ‘communautarisme' or communal fold. Demonstrating is not sufficient, we must fight against trivialization of racism and anti-Semitism Amar Dib

“Most of the time pupils conclude they must change their way they think”, Arielle Schwab said. “Most of them realize they had many prejudices and stereotypes but they don’t know how get rid of them. For us it proves the project is effective”, Arielle Schwab concluded.
“On the other hand, pupils appreciate seeing two different culture young mediators working together. It was a very positive experience. Everyone was satisfied and got a lot out of this”.

Teachers already would like UEJF and Convergence come back in order to go on this lesson of tolerance and respect.

The organisers believe the ‘Coexist’ program, which is supported by the Ministry of Education could be applied in the whole of France.