In mid-April, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Geneva opened the showers at the Varembé sports centre to people living in dire poverty, offering them access to basic hygiene facilities. With the resumption of sports activities and the relaxing of the protective measures, this service will be closed from 5 June.
Every day during the health crisis, some twenty people living in dire poverty were thus able to take a shower and benefit from the provision of free hygiene products. Some of them were also able to make use of a laundry. These are all essential elements of health prevention during a pandemic.
A successful partnership
This reassignment of the Varembé sports centre to the benefit of deprived people enjoyed the support of several associations and partners:
- CARE provided much-appreciated expertise and know-how;
- The Manotel group generously loaned towels;
- The Trajets laundry provided a free washing service.
Inter-service collaboration
Opening the showers at Varembé to the most deprived people offered them continued access to hygiene facilities following the temporary closure of the Vermont water point. This operation has been the fruit of collaboration between three services:
- the Social Service;
- the Sports Service;
- the Youth Service.
Each of them has contributed to the operation by coordinating the actions, accompanying the beneficiaries, ensuring a non-stop presence on site and cleaning the facilities.
Gradual reopening and return to normal
The Vermont water point will gradually reopen its doors to provide deprived people with access to hygiene facilities as well as a range of medical and healthcare services. The Varembé sports centre is organising its reopening in accordance with the measures stipulated by the federal authorities.
Contact
Manuelle Pasquali de Weck
Direction du département de la cohésion sociale et de la solidarité (DCSS)
Conseillère personnelle
Article modifié le 25.03.2024 à 08:55