France/The Bagnols-sur-Cèze twinning committee will present a cheque to Carcaixent, affected by floods in October 2024
The town of Bagnols lent its support to its twin town, Carcaixent, which was hit by flooding last October. Now, on Thursday March 6, the town's twinning committee will be helping the Spanish town with a cheque for 5,800 euros.
On October 29 and 30, the town of Carcaixent, some 50 kilometers south of Valence, was hit by terrible flooding. At the time, the town of Bagnols-sur-Cèze mobilized to come to the aid of the municipality with which it is twinned. When we heard about the events, Colette (Dagani, president of the twinning committee, editor's note) and I quickly got on the phone to see what we could do," recalls mayor Jean-Yves Chapelet. There was panic on board, and it was hard to find anyone from the Carcaixent twinning committee. " In the end, a week after the floods, elected members of the town council headed for the Spanish town with two lorries full of hygiene products, school supplies, foodstuffs and cleaning equipment.
A sum collected in several instalments
"We wanted to act quickly. We came to an agreement with the Twinning Committee, which said it would provide a second wave of support", adds the mayor. And that second wave is arriving this week. The treasurer of the Bagnols twinning committee, Denis Rieu, is leaving for Carcaixent on Thursday March 6 to hand over a cheque for 5,800 euros to the Spanish town. This sum was collected in several instalments. "We first made an appeal to our members and organized a tombola," says Colette Dagani, the president. The Sommières twinning committee organized a lotto especially for Carcaixent, and donated the proceeds - 5,200 euros - to us. This enabled us to have a larger budget."
"We have a special relationship with our twin towns".
The municipalities of Bagnols and Carcaixent are in constant contact: "We have a special relationship with our twin towns," emphasizes Jean-Yves Chapelet. When one of them encounters difficulties, we know how to mobilize."
Michel Cegielski, Deputy Delegate for Culture and the Twinning Committee, was one of the elected representatives who visited the town last year. " We often think that twinning is all about meeting people and travelling, but that's not all it's about. It also allows us to develop a certain reflection. Twinning looks to the future and the construction of Europe."
Twinning committee activities
The president of the twinning committee, elected since last July, wants to energize the association through several actions. " From May 1 to 5, we'll be welcoming delegations from all the towns with which we're twinned", announces Colette Dagani. There are six of them: Carcaixent in Spain, Newbury in England, Feltre in Italy, Braunfels in Germany, Eeklo in Belgium and Kiskunfelegyhaza in Hungary.
"Every year, a town in the network welcomes the young people from the Bagnol committee. This year, it's Kiskunfelegyhaza's turn to welcome them." Colette Dagani is therefore appealing to volunteers aged between 18 and 25 who would be interested in spending a few days with young Hungarians in August.
For further information, call 06 12 79 07 88.
Source: www.midilibre.fr
