Quartier de Lumière

Through La Ruche, Quartier de Lumière offers after-school support to the children of La Valette village from 3 PM to 6 PM. The children receive a snack and then participate in various creative workshops (drawing, painting, crafts) as well as academic support classes where basics are reviewed in a fun way. They also receive an introduction to computing using the G-compris software.

During school holidays, educational and recreational outings are organised. The children also have the opportunity to participate in sports camps (swimming, athletics, etc.) with the support of the Mauritius Sports Council and the association Mauriciens Sans Frontières.

Children receive psychological and medical support as well.

Additionally, Quartier de Lumière supports around ten families each month by providing a box of provisions for a small fee.

Beneficiaries: Quartier de Lumière supports about fifty of the most vulnerable families in La Valette. Annually, between 80 and 100 children—primarily from primary school (ages 5 to 12) but also up to secondary school (up to age 17)—attend La Ruche.

Quartier de Lumière (QDL) was established in November 2006 to better support twelve squatter families that the founding members had been assisting since 2005.

Initially, the association ensured that these families had enough food and clothing. Subsequently, QDL sought sponsorships for around thirty children and funding to construct several sheet metal houses.

When the National Empowerment Foundation (NEF) launched its integrated village construction project, the association helped the families from Vuillemin integrate into this government programme.

Nine of these families chose to relocate to La Valette in Bambous. With funds raised through a raffle and support from Courts Mammouth, QDL provided the necessary basic furnishings for their new homes.

Once the families were settled, Quartier de Lumière expanded its activities by starting an educational project in June 2010 for all primary school children in the village. Initially, this involved 75 families, eventually reaching the 200 families allocated housing in La Valette.

The project began under a makeshift shelter on the village basketball court. As these conditions were not ideal, the association built an education and training centre on land leased from the NEF. La Ruche, operational since 2012, was constructed with financial support from companies under the CSR policy.

Since then, managing La Ruche has become the main activity of Quartier de Lumière, although the association also provides monthly food distribution to the village's most needy families.

Since December 2020, Quartier de Lumière has embarked on a new project, "Strengthening Families in La Valette," to support parents in their parenting roles.

Our vision is to foster responsible and empowered parents and children who are thriving, self-reliant, aware of their societal importance, and who understand that success comes from hard work and discipline:

• Through La Ruche, we aim to ensure the comprehensive development of children, encompassing cognitive, physical, moral, and civic growth.
• The “Strengthening Families in La Valette” initiative aims to support parents in La Valette in better caring for their children's well-being, including nutritional needs, and education.

• National Social Inclusion Foundation (NSIF)
• CSR Foundations
• Individual donations