When I tell my family that my job sometimes involves spending an afternoon in a café or playing a game of pétanque in the morning, they often smile. They probably think I have a very easygoing job. But behind this seemingly relaxed approach lies a profound mission: guidance and reconstruction.

 

Hidden wounds

At the My Way department of Street Nurses, we support people who, after spending years living on the streets, now have a permanent home. Our role is to help them develop their personal projects and initiatives, so they can regain confidence in themselves and their abilities. Life on the streets doesn’t just leave physical scars—it often causes hidden wounds that take time and care to heal.

Paul told us he wanted to play pétanque again

Take Paul, for example. When he moved into his new home, he continued spending time in the area where he used to live on the streets, far from his new neighborhood. In that environment, he sometimes encountered conflicts and problems. Out of boredom, he also started drinking alcohol, which led to some difficult situations. Our team worked with Paul to help him settle in his new neighborhood and build a social network there. That’s why we often met him at a café near his home to help him familiarize with the area.

Then one day, Paul told us he wanted to play pétanque again, but he didn’t know where to start. So, we met him at the café with a laptop to search for information together. While we were there, we noticed Paul talking to the waitress and other customers. That’s how he found out that there was a pétanque club just a few steps away.

Petit à petit, Paul s'est créé et a consolidé un nouveau réseau et de nouvelles habitudes.

Restore confidence and create a solid foundation

Little by little, Paul has built and consolidated a new network and new habits. Today, Paul needs much less support from us. He has regained a valuable sense of independence. These moments in a café or on a pétanque court are not leisure activities for us, but essential steps in the process of reintegration and recovery. They help rebuild social connections, restore confidence, and create a solid foundation for a new life.

Every success, no matter how small, is a shared victory. Together, we give hope and dignity back to those who need it most.

 

Valérie

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