SCIENTOLOGY VOLUNTEER MINISTERS IN PARIS
December 3rd, 2005
Amid the rubble and smoke of the recent riots in the suburbs and cities of France, the bright yellow shirts of the Scientology Volunteer Ministers can be seen, where teams of volunteers are working to remedy the social factors underlying the civil disturbance.
The team of Scientology Volunteer Ministers who are working to remedy the social problems that gave rise to the riots in Paris and other French cities.
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The riots broke out on October 27th with the accidental death of two teenagers, who thought they were being pursued by the police. Violence quickly erupted on a grand scale with car burning, assault and the destruction and looting of public buildings and businesses. It quickly spread to the suburbs of other French cities.
The civil unrest has predominated in the neighborhoods that surround the major French cities where most residents are Arab and African immigrants, and their French-born children.
These neighborhoods have common problems, out of proportion to the rest of France:
- Most of the youth who have participated in the riots have dropped out of school.
- The rate of unemployment in these suburbs is much higher than the national average, leaving youth with the feeling of being disenfranchised.
- Drug trafficking by organized gangs offers a means of support that young people feel denied to them through legitimate work.
The director of a community center in Clichy sous Bois, one of the neighborhoods most harmed by the recent violence, summed up the problem when he said, “In these suburbs drug trafficking has established a prosperous ’parallel economy‘. How do you convince a 10 or 12-year-old kid who is earning 50 Euros a day being a lookout for a drug dealer that he should work hard at school if he wants to earn a living?”
This was the challenge the Scientology Volunteer Ministers faced when they decided to do something about this situation, knowing that real action was needed more than anything else.
Their actions have included the following:
- Increasing their anti drug activities; known as "Say No to Drug Say Yes to Life," this is the only large-scale drug-information campaign in France and it carries a clear-cut message to youth about the danger of drugs.
- Distributing thousands of copies of The Way to Happiness, a non religious moral code based on common sense to enlighten young people who have lost direction in their lives, and to provide a guide their parents can use to restore moral values.
- Providing effective study technology, developed by L. Ron Hubbard, that will enable youth to get through their schooling.
- Helping social workers and others who are active in the community with tools to make their work more effective, and
- Helping individuals overcome the trauma they experienced from living through weeks of violence.
The task is enormous, but Scientology Volunteer Ministers are experienced in helping in times of social upheaval in areas all over the world.
Every day, as they return to these trouble spots around Paris they are welcomed by local residents. And every day, more and more people are overcoming their fear, feeling happier and becoming more optimistic. The volunteers often encounter teenagers who have lost all hope of a better life and are bitter over the discrimination they have experienced. But they meet this with concrete help: helping them improve their ability to study, to communicate better, providing practical know-how to help them get better jobs.
Little by little, the idea that "something can be done about it" is permeating the suburbs and many residents who felt isolated and excluded can see that they can overcome the barriers they have encountered in life. The message of peace is spreading. Anyone of any race, color or creed can help. The Scientology Volunteer Ministers will train any person of goodwill. All are invited to join us.
Contact the Scientology Volunteer Minister Coordinator of the Church of Scientology of Paris at paris@scientology.net or the International Scientology Volunteer Minister Coordinator at vm@volunteerministers.org.
If you wish to volunteer time or help with donations, call (33) 01 53 33 52 00 or e-mail vm@volunteerministers.org
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