Foreign workers are an asset to French society. This claim is made by several actors and actresses who are committed to better integration of these people. This is the case, for example, with Each One, a social enterprise that supports refugees on a daily basis and the companies that want to hire them. The photographer Géraldine Aresteanu wants to convey this message of wealth through another channel: that of her art, photography. In an exhibition entitled ‘Foreigner’ she publishes the portraits of those who contribute to the success of French society.
His project has been on display in several cities in France since March 21. In Paris, the portraits of 32 women and men, from 28 countries (Korea, Congo, Niger, Romania, Tunisia, etc.), are exhibited in all stations in France, in front of the Institut du monde arabe and in more of 500 places in Paris , including shopping centers, we can read on the site of For information†
They are doctors, clowns, customer service managers, truck drivers, musicians or bakers. Each photo is accompanied by a word, “stranger” or “outsider”, written in the native language of these women and men, as well as a statement from the person who employs them.
“For over 20 years I have photographed the world of work through the people who do it – employees, freelancers, bosses, interns, trainees… – in all sectors of activity: health, agriculture, construction, IT, culture, education , associations… enough to be convinced that the national economic fabric consists to a large extent of multicultural companies and institutions and thus that foreign workers contribute to the life and success of our current society.”
Géraldine Aresteanu, in her manifesto
Discover this project in the nearest station, on the site dedicated to the project or on Géraldine Aresteanu’s Instagram account:
“A foreigner is someone who is not at home. I think one day, in France, I will feel at home. † Adoul Aziz Sidibe, 19, Guinean, apprentice tiler with Romain Pascal Plomberie, arrived in France in 2017.
“We took the Hippocratic Oath. It’s the oath we took when we graduated to help anyone in need and it’s well written: regardless of religion, color, ethnicity, beliefs…” Nesrine Boujelbene, 39, Tunisian intensive care physician, Avicenne and Jean-Verdier AP-HP University Hospitals, arrived in France in 2016.
“In Niger, the word foreigner is synonymous with guest, we have a certain obligation to a foreigner: you are obliged to help him, you are obliged to welcome him, to open the doors for him for a while.” Mohamed Yacine Sani Amadou, 30, Nigerian, factory pilot, production manager at Saur Group.
“Three words to define the word foreign: opportunity, openness, ingenuity. † Klaudia Vizi, 27, Hungarian, commercial director at @bilum.paris, arrived in France in 2014.
“Today I am a different woman, freer, more fulfilled. I agree with myself. I was not mistaken, I am in my place. † Suzanne Beugre, 51, Ivorian, nursing assistant at the Raymond Poulin nursing home, arrived in France in 2015.
“Now I act like a Frenchman, perhaps by imitation. It’s weird, but today I feel both Korean and French. I would even say more French than Korean. † Ye Chang Jung, 30, South Korean, solo oboe with the @opera_chester_montpellier, arrived in 2005.
“Being integrated shows that you are a good person, that you are not here to do stupid things: that is integration. † Youssouf Conde, 21, Guinean, cook at La table de Marie, arrived in France in 2017.
“I have always appreciated France for its values, for its values, for what it had to offer the people. France knows how to recognize its talents and that’s great! † Soukaina Chapi, 33, Moroccan, Head of Support – Customer Care at Meetic, arrived in France in 2006.
“When I had my children, I took my roots. My children have managed to make me feel less foreign. † Andreea Vizitiu, 40, Romanian, clown at @leriremedecin, arrived in France in 2005.
” I like my job. It was my dream job. I worked. I contributed. My education, I did it with my CIF hours. » Bleriot Bayidikila, 46, Congolese, truck driver with Transport Peigné, arrived in France in 2005.
You can also get the book with texts and pictures. Pre-orders can be found on the Ulule website.
If you liked this article, check out another series of photos that celebrate love from the perspective of people with Down syndrome.