“They have experienced a personal and/or professional life accident and have slipped, slipped, slipped, until they hit rock bottom,” says Nathalie Barbazanges. “And then when they start to climb back up, they allow themselves to consider working, but in a protected environment.” This is where the integration project Les tabliers solidaires comes in.
In integration projects, the core of the support is social work. But there is also a supportive activity. Here, it involves catering. This means that the women cook, then load everything into a truck to go to the client for a service, before clearing everything away, bringing it back, and cleaning up, until the next time.
It is the employees who take turns cooking and going out to serve clients, who thank and congratulate them. And all of this helps to heal.
“The common point for all the women who come through us, the first thing they need to relearn is self-confidence, to realize that they are capable,” emphasizes the coordinator. Then they need to relearn the codes of the working world, how to work in a team while also being able to work independently, punctuality, and respect for processes. But each person is unique, so each has very specific challenges to overcome to enter or re-enter the workforce.
In addition, there is a commitment to good eating for all, with organic and local products. “It would be a bit misleading to think we can care for our employees and clients if we do not take care of the people who feed us and the planet,” explains Nathalie Barbazanges.
A particular effort is made in the fight against waste, by carefully measuring portions in advance based on the number of guests, composting green waste, and favoring reusable enamel metal dishes. When there are leftovers, Les Tabliers solidaires calls on the platform Miam up, which works with various associations in the field of food aid. “We really try to have a positive impact from start to finish, in Toulouse but more generally across our entire sector.”
“What matters most to us is to plant something in the hearts of our employees in reintegration and to give them back that spark of life,” concludes Nathalie Barbazanges.
