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Facts 29/11/2025 18:26

France Turns Empty Schools Into Night Shelters

In France, the warmth of education continues long after the school bell rings — not through lessons, but through rest. Vacant schools, especially during weekends and holidays, are now being repurposed as night rest halls for those without stable shelter. Classrooms that once echoed with chalk and curiosity quietly reopen at dusk, offering foldable beds, shared cook zones, and a sense of stillness to those seeking refuge.

Each setup is minimal yet thoughtful. Desks are pushed aside, making space for clean, padded cots arranged in neat rows beneath chalkboards and posters still left from morning classes. In the cafeteria areas or converted teacher lounges, communal cooktops and stocked shelves invite people to prepare simple meals together — soups simmered slowly, bread toasted, and tea steeped without rush.

The schools are not institutionalized or anonymous. Lights stay low, voices soft. Each visitor receives a blanket, a locker, and the right to linger without judgment. Volunteers from the neighborhood sometimes stop by to help with meals or read bedtime stories to families. The presence of books, colorful walls, and familiar signs gives these spaces a feeling of life — not abandonment.

By turning schools into shelters, France shows that public buildings can carry their mission into the night. Education remains alive — not only in books, but in the quiet act of opening doors to those who need them most.

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