When fragility fosters solidarity

Every year in France ten thousand people survive a serious road or sporting accident, or a stroke. Their lives may be completely turned upside down after months in a coma, and possibly some form of handicap. In a society based on efficiency, what is the sense of these lives which have been saved but which are clearly fragile? Laurent de Cherisey, a former company manager, created a socially innovative project with a group of people who are both disabled and able-bodied based on the idea of ‘living together’, for example sharing a meal, talking, building friendships, and so on. He formed the Simon de Cyrène association and founded a community regrouping about sixty apartments in the centre of Vanves where disabled and able-bodied people share accommodation. The work of the association inspired the author behind the French film ‘Intouchables’, and its model of cohabitation has been so successful that it has been copied by ten cities in France. Laurent de Cherisey considers that society is solid because of the importance it can give to its most fragile members.