The young Euréliennes discovered in them Seeds of storytellers…

Five young girls, a priori calm, have just discovered “Seeds of storytellers” within themselves. The local Mission of the arrondissement of Chartres did not even suspect it, in charge of supporting young people under 25 towards employment or training, directing these Euréliennes, which follows, towards this laboratory where for fifteen days, Alice Lavenu, the first week then Hiromi Asai, the second, made sure to germinate these seeds. “It’s a great discovery”, comment, with all their enthusiasm, the two speakers, respectively facilitator of writing workshops and narrator actress.

Depth in themes

The result blew them away, they say, together. From this laboratory were born tales with a part of fantasy, bestiaries, in which the characters, often assuming the appearance of animals, flee from a confused existence, from a malaise, are in search of meaning, of a livable world… It is about poverty for Marie, difference and self-acceptance for Sarah, mourning, loneliness, friendship for Âme, pedophilia for Camara (the first name has been changed)… All works with sensitivity and depth, far from the superficiality that we like to attribute the younger generation.

Guided in their first words and strokes

“They didn’t know the frame of the story, the structure…” recalls Alice Lavenu, who devoted the first few hours to providing them with the necessary notions. As for Hiromi Asai, she gave them the basic principles of Kamishibai, theater of images on Japanese paper: “There are some rules to follow. »

It is with infinite respect and equal care that the two speakers accompanied the first words and the first jokes of this Graines de conteuses workshop, which was held in the Eloburo coworking space. “It was about placing young people in a working environment,” explains Azaline Clémenceau, head of the “culture, leisure, volunteering” project at the Chartres Local Mission.

When the Local Mission moves

Learn to write and draw

Given favorable conditions, Sarah, Âme, Camara, Aurélie and Marie had to tame writing for some, drawing for others. Because they had never done it, they didn’t like it or they didn’t feel capable of doing it… Like Marie. Drawing, little for her, however, writing is a need. “If I could, I would write all day. Hers is without clamor, nor agreement with her reality. “For me, it’s putting my emotions on paper. I find it easier to write than to speak. It’s like a diary,” she says.

Rather, it was the illustration that encouraged Sarah to attend this workshop. “I’ve been doing it since I was little. This workshop has allowed me to improve, I’ve never done so many drawings in such a short time. »

With respect for others

Faced with their blank sheets, everyone quickly faced the opposite of shyness, restraint or even lack of trust that surrounds these ages that seek each other out. And this thanks to the climate of emotional security that has been established within this laboratory, where all ideas have been welcomed with the same interest, without ridicule, without judgement. “We all respected each other. She made the experience better,” says Marie. ” Was it really good?! Everyone understood everyone,” adds Sarah.

A little of everyone in these stories

This workshop was a “bubble” for Âme (19 years old), passionate about Japan, its culture, its traditions… Its history bears the signs of it. Like her, the participants put their sensibilities and their universe at the service of the tales they have created.

The stories want to be almost initiatory as their authors have drawn on things that are personal or that concern them particularly. “I managed to make a story that represents me. People see this story and stop there. But I know what I went through, so I see her as a little treasure…” she confides.

This seminar also confirmed the obvious. She will be an artist in Japanese paper art. “I don’t see myself creating something extraneous to my life”, those who make suspensions, origami (paper works made with the art of folding) and kirigami (paper works made with the art of cutting) already know it.

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Storytelling at a child’s level

For his part, Camara was eager to address pedophilia. “I had heard about it before but I didn’t think there were so many people suffering from it. Working in homes, I realized that there are many young people in this situation. How can parents do this kind of thing to their children? It’s awful,” the girl gets angry. She had to find a way to talk about such a difficult topic from a child’s point of view.

Again, this group proved to be mutual aid. Everyone thought about the tricky question. And Camara decided to deliver her message with the help of a wolf and a werewolf. Thorough work, in a short period of time, that improves self-image. “I was surprised at myself, at what I managed to do…”, smiles the young woman.

Perform them in front of a very young audience

Another challenge awaits them. These tales of Kamishibaï, according to Azaline Clémenceau who organized this workshop

, are intended to be worn in front of very young spectators, in day care centers or elsewhere. “The idea is to take them to the end, right in front of the audience. Something that seemed insurmountable to them becomes possible. That’s the beauty of this program. »

Thirteen other young people, followed by the Local Mission of the Chartres arrondissement, participated in the L’Atout Zen workshop