HERE COMES THE SUN

Paris, March 2025

A bright sunny day at the CEDRE in Paris. We were joined by a group of men who seemed almost hungry to do things and create. They moved with agility and concentration from tracing images to watercolours, portraits, constructions, making animals from plasticine… Egypt and the Nile were very present : the pyramids seen through the old Viewmaster or stories about this incredible river that flows through and interconnects so many countries and people.

There was music and singing. One man gave a lesson in gymnastics ending with a display of handstand pushups. Another showed us a photo of his wife in Algeria « she is patient, honest and open » before collapsing exhausted for a sleep on the sofa right next to the table.

The next day at the urban garden La Semeuse we were joined by a group from the CEDRE drop-in service - including the gymnast - and a group of men from the association Melting Point, a solidarity network for LGBTQI+ people in exile seeking asylum in France.

The sun continued to shine as people wove withy fences and dug up bamboo rhizomes. A young man from Nigeria took over as DJ and played sweet sounds on a bluetooth speaker. The music and the sun melted any initial awkwardness between the different groups. At one point the gymnast told us he had arrived in Lampedusa after swimming 23 hours with a life belt made of empty plastic bottles. This information was beautifully received by the group around the table. We wound up by printing out words and making group drawings. Then we packed up our caddy and trundled back through the dusty streets.

Words by Kate France & Naomi Press.