A First in Mauritius - Karousel: A Shelter for Homeless Women

In Mauritius, a new center provides homeless women with what they have been lacking: a welcoming place with comprehensive support. Karousel was inaugurated yesterday.

In the cozy reception lounge, pastel-colored sofas face an elegant octagonal work table. The walls are adorned with soft, calming wallpaper. Further inside, there’s a computer room equipped with eight computers, a functional kitchen with all the essentials, and a relaxation room with a comfortable sofa and cushions. Karousel, the first shelter exclusively dedicated to homeless women in Mauritius, has just opened its doors in Belle-Rose. The official opening took place yesterday, Monday, November 24.

While homeless men have three 24/7 residential centers available, homeless women have had no similar space until now. The new center allows them to take a hot shower, enjoy meals, rest, and access essential services.

The project is spearheaded by the NGO Passerelle, which has been active in supporting distressed women for over a decade, with support from the French embassy, the Post Office, and Accenture, among others. "Karousel is primarily the brainchild of Passerelle, from its conception to realization. The delivery wasn’t without pain, but the team and I believed in it. With our experience, we built what is today a true source of pride: Karousel," explains Mélanie Valère-Ciceron, the project manager, a trained journalist turned social worker.

The center is based on a study conducted by Passerelle. According to the data, the age group of homeless women ranges from 35 to over 50 years. Many are cast out onto the streets by their families for various reasons. The study also reveals that 58% of them have previously stayed in shelters, indicating that the role of these structures has been insufficient, likely due to a lack of follow-up and appropriate training.

Training and Reintegration

"It’s not enough for an idea to be born in the mind for it to materialize. Passerelle wanted to base its efforts on figures, even approximative, concerning the number of homeless women on our streets. From this data, we designed Karousel, a ‘Social Action House’ tailored to their needs, combining reception (showers, meals, drinks, computer access, etc.), support, training, listening, and even a social postal box, as often these women are both homeless and lack a fixed address (SAF). We thank the Post Office for its support of this project," details Mélanie Valère-Ciceron.

Beyond emergency accommodation, Karousel focuses on the support and gradual rebuilding of women’s lives. The center has a studio equipped with microphones and headsets for dialogue and exchange, a children’s corner, and a shop where they can sell their creations.

Partners like Accenture provide their staff to train these women in basic computer skills. "This training is essential. For us, using a mouse is trivial, but for them, it’s like Christmas magic. It will enable them to fill out forms and better integrate into a digitized world," emphasizes the project manager.

During the opening ceremony, the Minister of Gender Equality, Arianne Navarre-Marie, Junior Minister Kugan Parapen, Damien Legros, director of the CCAS of La Réunion, Shalini Jugessur from Accenture Mauritius, and Quentin Biehier, cultural advisor of the French embassy in Mauritius, praised this innovative initiative.

A Journey of Breaks

Sabrina, 36, a mother of three little girls, agreed to share her story publicly. Employed in a company in the capital, she lived with her partner for eight years before everything changed. "Not everything was going well in our couple. I’ve been separated for some time. I come from adoptive parents and I am an only child. When I decided to leave him, I didn’t know where to go with my children. Some friends welcomed us, but I couldn’t impose on them," she recounts.

After wandering from house to house, she knocked on Passerelle’s door. "Since we’ve been living at the center, my children go to school, I work, we are fed, housed, and cleaned, and I have some peace of mind."

Her goal remains to find stable housing. "Everyone aspires to have their own home one day. That’s my wish, even if I have to work hard and save."

Committed Volunteers

Adrienne Perrine, 21, got involved in social work right after finishing school. She is fully invested in three platforms: Passerelle, Dis-Moi, and Karousel. "It’s innate; I always feel the need to help others, especially those in need. One day I’m at Passerelle, another day at Dis-Moi as Activism Support Coordinator, and I’m also volunteering at Karousel. I’m thrilled that there’s a shelter for homeless women: they will receive all the necessary help, a hot bath, and clean clothes, thanks to donations, because being dirty and poorly dressed makes them outcasts," explains the young woman. Her message to women in distress is clear: "Don’t let yourself go into despair. There are dedicated groups and people ready to help you."

Audiha, originally from Guinea, was born in Côte d’Ivoire and has lived in Mauritius for about ten years. She has developed a genuine passion for Passerelle and currently supports Karousel as well. "The issue of domestic violence is rising in Mauritius, just like elsewhere in the world. It is crucial to educate men on how to respect and communicate with women. Unfortunately, solutions from the authorities are slow to arrive, as the subject is complex and many do not recognize the different forms of violence – physical, verbal, psychological, economic. It’s a long-term effort that Passerelle is trying to undertake with the resources it has," she says.