Marseilles, 16/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - During the conference, those taking part in the 7th European Round Table on Poverty and Social Exclusion were invited to take part in visits “in the field”, where they met people living in great poverty. Among them, some had taken part in the “people's university” organised by ATD-Quart-Monde.
“This kind of workshop helps to refocus the mind on the problems on the ground,” commented a member of a European trade union. Participants set out what they felt made a “good firm”: the guarantee of secure employment, good working conditions and the feeling of being useful. They also expressed their difficulty in understanding the concept of “active inclusion”.
“The involvement of citizens is really of the greatest importance. It can bring about or stop political decision-making,” Marie-Cécile Renoux of ATD told EUROPE. “Tomorrow, Europe can demonstrate its strong desire to eradicate poverty,” she added. (L.B.S./transl.rt)