The meeting was expected. Initially scheduled last week, the meeting was finally held this Tuesday morning. Queen Mathilde went to the “Le Toboggan” Reception Center in Mons. A structure which mainly accommodates young girls in difficulty, placed by the youth assistance service. For the occasion, the teenagers were even dressed in their best outfit. They were not the only ones to wait impatiently for the Sovereign since several children were waiting in front of the center to welcome the Queen.
The Queen, who first spoke with the management of the center and the specialist educators. “It was an honor for us to welcome the Queen“, explains Grégory Vacoillie, educator specializing in the Toboggan.”His coming is recognition of all these years of working in the shadows. She made us feel comfortable after three minutes, it was really nice “. The members of the center and Queen Mathilde discussed the functioning and the supervision of the 15 young girls present in the establishment. This provides a holy framework for these teenage girls, who sometimes have behavioral problems.
Queen Mathilde continued her visit by meeting the young adolescents in person. The inevitable subject has obviously occupied all conversations: covid-19. His Majesty was interested in the difficulty of this situation for these young girls. Thanks to the supervision offered, they did not experience it particularly badly: “It was difficult because I did not join my family but the center did everything to make sure we weren’t bored “, comments one of the young girls. “We did activities like playing, badminton or even cooking “.
The covid-19 crisis and confinement have effectively impacted the functioning of reception facilities. “It was not easy because, here, we had to manage two deliveries during the first confinement “, explains Grégory Vacoillie. “We advised the young girls remotely by phone or video. It’s a different organization but we still managed well in this unprecedented situation. “
In the subjects discussed, that of the “Marsipulama” project. Another section of the center which offers a welcome adapted to young mothers who are minors. This support is essential so that young girls can juggle studies and their child. Queen Mathilde was very enthusiastic about the project: “She was curious to know him and especially to know how it goes on a daily basis for mothers“, notes the director, Fabienne Jeanson. “She spoke with them and tried to understand the help that is being given here “.
The girls were also impressed by the presence of the Queen: “It moved me “, reacts one of them, “I had never seen anyone from the royal family. It was a good experience because she is really listening and we were even able to ask her questions too “. Queen Mathilde therefore left a good impression within the Reception Center.
