Within the thick brick walls near Bastille Square in the middle of Paris, there is hectic activity. Canned food is stacked in height. In wooden boxes are inviting fruit in several colors. Both sanitary napkins and condoms are part of the offer today.
– HAS INCREASED: Bérengèr Poncet is responsible for the food distribution for students near Bastille Square. The pandemic has worsened the situation for students. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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– We distribute food three times a week. Shopping carts with varied content that give students the opportunity to eat for a week or ten days. Financial insecurity has increased during the pandemic, says Bérengèr Poncet (24).
She leads the troops indoors on the premises of several student organizations. Bérengèr is studying to become a speech therapist. At the same time, she is the general secretary of the organization CO´P1, which distributes food to students.
– What does it really mean that there is financial security for students?
– It’s easy to describe. It is to run out of money at the end of the month and not have money for food or rent, says Bérengèr.
Living as poor
The queue grows outside the building in one of the hippest neighborhoods in Paris. People rush past with designer bags over their shoulders, or a small silk scarf around their necks. The economic differences are striking in the district, which is loved by tourists and where only those with the most money can afford an apartment.
The queue stands scroll on their phones. Many say no to being interviewed. Standing in a food queue is not necessarily something you want to spread.
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FILM AND LANGUAGE: Tatiana and Miguel study what they are passionate about, but their finances are tight. Without the food distribution, they would not have made it. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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– Either we have to pay the rent or the food. It is difficult sometimes, says Tatiana Vargas (21). She is studying languages in Paris. The dream is to become a linguist.
Tatiana’s girlfriend, film student Miguel Suarez (20) shows off the ravioli box, which was one of the choices this week. The two are originally from Colombia, but have lived in Paris for several years. The money is not enough. They can not afford to eat in the student canteen.
– When you do not receive a scholarship, it costs around three and a half euros. But 3.50 every day is felt in the pocket book, says Miguel. It is just under 35 kroner every day. They go to the food distribution every 14 days.
Even if life is tough financially, they would not do anything else.
– Film is my passion. I just want to learn more and more. I hope the day comes when I can show my films to an audience, says Miguel.
In 2019, a report came out that showed that one in five students in France live below the poverty line. The numbers have not gone down, on the contrary, the pandemic has intensified the trend. Many students lost their extra jobs during the pandemic, and relief measures have been stopped now that the pandemic is no longer acute.
Poorer purchasing power has been the big issue in this election campaign, but little about the students’ problems. Much has been about high fuel prices, while it is not necessarily a big problem for students who rarely have a car. The right-wing populist Marine Le Pen has, among other things, promised that everyone under the age of 30 will avoid income tax with her as president.
– GOT TIP: A friend told Nathan about the food distribution. It has helped him with the economy. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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Homemakers and blank voices
Nathan Forissier is 25 years old and goes to theater school. He moved from Lyon to Paris to live out his dream of becoming an actor. A friend tipped off about the food distribution and so he hands over financially. In addition to his studies, he works with accepting orders from a home delivery company.
– I work enough to cover the rent and the school, but not enough to pay what is outside the school, food .. it is difficult.
Young people are overrepresented among the residents. The oldest are the most eager to vote. Macron receives almost 70 percent of all votes of those over 65 years of age. Without them, it would have been much smoother between the two candidates in the final round of the election on Sunday. Now it looks like Macron will win by around 10 percentage points.
– Shouldn’t Macron be the president of youth?
– Good question. Not much has happened. Macron is not the president who has helped students or other young people, says Bérangèr.
– SHOULD VOTE: For Nathan Forissier, there may be a blank vote in the ballot box. The only thing he knows is that there is a candidate he should not vote for. Photo: Santiago Vergara / TV 2
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Nathan is due to vote on Sunday.
– I know who I will not vote for in the presidential election, but not whether I will vote for the other candidate or blank.
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