2024-01-30 21:43:52
The influx of unaccompanied minors (UMAs) is causing a crisis within the Vaud Migrant Reception Establishment (EVAM). An audit was carried out for one year. He must deliver his conclusions at the end of the week, RTS learned.
For several years, a certain unease has reigned in the area of unaccompanied minors at EVAM. Several members of the EVAM teams testify anonymously on 7:30 p.m., for fear of losing their jobs.
“We have the impression that there is no longer any educational work, but just occupation to make young people autonomous as quickly as possible. Their well-being is little taken into account,” assures the ‘one of these people.
“An educational concept had been put in place, but it was quickly abandoned. We now only operate with procedures to follow,” says another.
“There are a lot of arrivals, EVAM is opening structures all over the place and hiring people very easily. The teams change often, the unaccompanied minors don’t have time to create links,” laments a third person.
Nine times more unaccompanied minors
In five years, the number of unaccompanied minors taken care of by EVAM has increased nine times. Their number reached 382 in 2023. As a result, the institution had to hire quickly and in numbers. Full-time equivalents have increased sixfold.
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It is difficult to manage such influxes in such a short time. Faced with tensions, the canton of Vaud launched a one-year audit in autumn 2022.
“This requires a joint response between EVAM and youth protection. Until now, no one has slept outside. We really took care of all these young people,” declared State Councilor Isabelle Moret.
“But now, we really need to be able to think in the long term with a more structured response. This is why it was necessary, for my colleague [Vassilis] Venizelos and I, to launch this vast analysis and come with an action plan,” adds the PLR elected official.
The SSP “very angry”
The Public Services Union (SSP) had partial access to the audit results. “We are relieved that this voice can finally be heard,” says Letizia Pizzolato, union secretary at the SSP.
But in his eyes, the situation is not satisfactory: “We are also very angry because, ultimately, what is mentioned in this report is the situation that we already experienced in 2016 and 2017 and which we had already brought to the attention of the canton”, she says.
“Children have suffered from this system. There are also professionals who have had their health affected and who preferred to leave [leur emploi]. Today, the teams are devastated,” she further emphasizes.
Contacted by RTS, EVAM does not wish to comment for the moment. The canton should present the results of the analysis and its action plan at the end of the week. In 2024, the number of unaccompanied minors is expected to increase further.
Leandre Duggan/friend
>> Subject broadcast in the 7:30 p.m. of RTS Tuesday
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