Young people are the target of the ambassadors of this structure, which aims to be complementary.
The VI Nations tournament started last weekend but the oval ball does not have the same purpose with “Rebonds!”. Launched in 2004, this association transforms the trial through social ties with various branches in Occitania.
That of the Hérault zone, extended to Gard for five months, has been operating since September 2017 and relies on a team of nine people, including six employees under the control of Pierre Bellemere.
“We work mainly in the districts of Montpellier, Béziers, Lunel but also in the rural sectors, in Lodève, Bédarieux, Agde … We have recently been working on the towns of Sète and Frontignan”, explains the latter, departmental manager.
A dozen of Hérault clubs are partners
Before continuing: “Our goal is to operate in a transversal and complementary manner. We are not here to walk on the beds of others. We have a real desire to work with associations, the medico-social sector and institutions.”
Among the priority actions, there are all these interventions on school time. “During the first confinement, we thus ensured a watch on dropping out of school” (sic).
Then, out of it, “Bounces!” sensitized the population on various themes: weight gain, the upsurge in verbal and physical violence.
“And from the link that is established, we will follow the entire life course of the young person concerned”, explains Pierre Bellemere. Supported by both municipalities and national education, the association, which is not well established, has seen its task singularly complicated by the health situation.
But the number of clubs involved is increasing knowing that rugby is really the gateway to these very diverse aids and that the more the years go by, the more the trials will be linked to transformations!
“Rebounds!”, A 16-year story
“Bounces!” uses rugby as a tool for education and social and professional integration with people in difficulty. It was created in 2004 by two former professional rugby players, Sanoussi Diarra, Sébastien Bouche, a duo who then realized at the time, through the first rugby initiations set up in priority neighborhoods, that it was very difficult for young people initiated and attracted by rugby, to go to a club. The reasons: the absence of a club in these neighborhoods, the few actions to promote rugby in these areas, the violent image that rugby sends to these populations, the financial and mobility difficulties of young people and their families.
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