For some, the end of year holidays are a difficult time to get through where loneliness is felt even more. For these isolated people, the SOS Amitié association is there to always listen attentively.
In Brittany, there are three branches of SOS Amitié, one in Rennes, one in Brest and recently one in Vannes.
There are volunteers who make themselves available to listen to people who suffer from loneliness. “We receive around 2,000 calls every day in France” explains Annick listening to Rennes. “This figure has been increasing since the Covid crisis. And you should know that we can only respond to one in five calls” specifies the volunteer.
Annick also says that there are more calls to SOS Amitié during the end-of-year celebrations or during the summer holidays, for example. These periods reinforce the feeling of loneliness. “There are also people who are far from their family, or people who don’t have family. In the city, you might believe that they are not alone but in the buildings, there is a great loneliness too You don’t necessarily know your next-door neighbor and sometimes relationships are difficult. But in the countryside, it’s also difficult because there aren’t always the means of transport. There aren’t the services or means of meeting people. And then, during vacation periods, there are many activities that are stopped. Loneliness can also be linked to illness, to age.”
SOS Amitié volunteers are trained in this listening, explains Annick. “So it is obvious that those who apply cannot be let loose like that. Applicants must be interested in everything that concerns the person’s inner life and the difficulties they may encounter in life. These volunteers are also accompanied and must meet a psychologist. Afterwards there is training which lasts several weeks. The new ones are also in double listening at the beginning with confirmed volunteers.
Practical information : SOS Amitié Rennes, 02.99.59.71.71 or www.sos-amitié.com
To apply as a volunteer by email sosamitierennes@wanadoo.fr or by post, SOS Amitié – BP 70837 – 35008 Rennes Cedex.
2023-12-21 08:29:26
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