Patriarches

Patriarches project - ongoing since 2007

The Patriarches project launched by BATIK International at the end of 2007 aims to value the memories and life experience of elderly migrants who now live in the Paris region. The numbers of elderly migrants are increasing and they tend not to make their voices heard. These migrants are coming up against the inherent difficulties of old age with this phase proving even more difficult than integrating on arrival in France. Following lives spent in France and their home countries, the experiences of these patriarchs are a blend of domestic tales and better known history. They have lots to tell and share with others, particularly with the younger generations.
The Patriarches project has enabled the personal accounts of elderly migrants living in the Paris region to be collected with the support of a committee made up of three patriarchs from the three main geographic areas - the Maghreb, sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia. The personal accounts are reproduced at events at which a book and film are presented.

// The film, which lasts 26 minutes and was made by Karim Ait Gacem, presents the stories of six migrants from Burkina Faso, Algeria, Benin, Cambodia and Vietnam. The film takes viewers on a walk around Paris and its suburbs retracing the different chapters in their migration stories and alternates personal accounts and reminiscences via drama and animation.
More than 30 screenings have been held since March 2009 in different venues and several towns in the Paris region: at the Centre Social Boutroux in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, at the Foyer des Jeunes Travailleurs in Argenteuil, at the résidence Hémet in Aubervilliers, at the Maison des Métallos in the 11th arrondissement with first year classes from Lucie Aubrac high school, at Jean Gabin cinema in Argenteuil, at the Pasteur high school in Villejuif with third year classes or in Aubervilliers during the Festival "Saveurs Métisses".

At the end of 2009, the BATIK International team considered bringing together the reactions of viewers during the debates that followed the film. So, together with director Karim Ait Gacen, a "vidéomathon" started to take place where people were asked to give their impressions of an extract of the film that had surprised or touched them.

Patriarches - Scène de l’arrivée en bateau

You can have a look to their impressions by clicking here !

The film is aimed at young people and is accompanied by an educational questionnaire. If you too would like to organise a screening and discussion based on the film, please get in touch. We will send you the film and will organise the screening and discussion, which will be attended by the film-maker and some patriarchs.

// The book "Patriarchs. Portraits from here and memories from there" contains parts of the stories told by the patriarches emphasising key moments and issues during their lives. Portrait photos taken by the photographer Hanna Zaworonko back up the text. The book - in french - is available since November 2009.

More information?

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Press review

Program "Afrique Enchantée" - France Inter radio - 10/10/2010

Afriscope n°17 - September Octobre 2010

The broadcasting radio Alternatives FM has made a program on the screening and discution that took place in Aubervilliers in December 2009. To listen in french please "click here".

The internet website "Empowerment & Migration" speaks about Patriarches, to read the article, please "click here".

Initiatives in the north and south

Patriarches project - ongoing since 2007