Youna, a young girl, testifies : 

” I find that UCCLA is useful to many things : to do more activities. I like dancing, circus, music. I have never been able to make music before. It was too hard. There was no room for me. Yet I wanted to…

Mosaic too, it was so good and the percussions also with Tambour Battant. 

It is also so good because I meet many people : new friends Simon and Jérémy and Caroline, and also former school friends who come to do the activities with me : Julia, Amélie and Laura. 

I also like it when we party together: Christmas boum or the 5 year party at la Papinière. It was so funny to see parents dancing with my fabrics like us. I was laughing very hard. I appreciate when Dominique gives us the planning of activities. I write down all my outings in my cell phone.

Gaylord, active volunteer of the association, testifies : 

“I have known the association a bit by chance. I just moved and I was lost in my new landmarks, I looked for a place where involved me in. I had time and love to share, as it is said. Thus, I contacted Un Copain Comme Les Autres.

I totally ignored the world of disability and with selfishness, I wanted to apprehend what frightened me ! By giving back, I desired to help them. But I learnt a big lesson when I first visited, because instead of giving them something, the opposite happened ! I was confronted with children, like the others, whom I had not known since then. They gave me and bring me everyday, Love in the raw state. With the innocence of the child.

They have completely changed my life, and all my family bears witness. There is a one before UCCLA and one after. It is not the same guy coming out. I don’t see my life with them anymore. And when I am told that I involve a lot, I answer no, it is just that I give them back to the same level that I receive. When things are naturally made, people don’t feel that the involvement is such.

“I won’t never thank them enough, my Copains comme les Autres”

Didier and Anne Lise Bliguet, parents testify :

“Such a chance that we had to discover 3 years ago the association “Un Copain comme les Autres”, after unsuccessfull years to look for adapted activities for our daughter Youna, 17 years old, mentally challenged.

She has had finally the opportunity to bloom practicing a variety of activities : dance, mosaics, pottery, adapted sport without challenge of competition or physical performances and without being affraid of judgement of others. She has had the opportunity to enrich herself with all the new relationships with her friends of the association.

She has had the opportunity, at her own pace, with confidence, to go beyond her limits thanks to the dedicated profesionnals and the persevering, friendly and listening volunteers.

She has had the opportunity to be part of great collective adventures, by participating in various shows.

She has had the opportunity to fulfill her dearest teenage wish : have a rich and varied social life like her brother.

And for us, parents, it is such a chance to see our daughter who is fulfilled ! It reduces the suffering of having a different child, to which is added the pain of seeing her excluded from existing sport and leisure structures due to lack of financial, human and especially fear of difference.

We also appreciate a lot the developped friendly and warm relationships between parents, volunteers and professionals as well. This relational network supports us, fuels our daily struggle for a more welcoming world in front of the difference. We learn a lot from each other.

“Un Copain comme les autres”, it is really an association like no other

Thank you all so, so much !”