About Pause-Culture-Recherche
To foster interactions between humanitarian actors and researchers in the humanities and social sciences, the French Red Cross Foundation regularly organizes “Pause-Culture-Recherche” (PCR) events at the Croix-Rouge française Campus. The aim of these PCR sessions is to tangibly embody the link between research and society through experiences shared by researchers in the humanities and humanitarian and social actors, as well as artists.
During this 8th edition, the French Red Cross Foundation welcomed Boris Martin, Editor-in-Chief of the journal Alternatives Humanitaires, to its headquarters. He presented his latest book, I Was Part of the Battalion of Lost Children (Éditions Le Bord de l’eau, 2024), in a deeply personal and resilient talk.
This narrative, which he describes as “almost accidental,” continues the work he has done in writing about humanitarian action, including Goodbye to Humanitarianism? NGOs Facing the Neoliberal Offensive (Éditions Charles Léopold Mayer, 2015).
Instinctive Writing and a Powerful Testimony
Boris Martin shared with the audience the origins of his book. Initially, he intended to write a novel, but this story imposed itself on him like an undeniable “surprise.” He made it his mission to write it “from the perspective of the child I once was,” without prior research or documentation, relying solely on his instincts. Through this deeply personal narrative, he sheds light on the child welfare system while offering his own testimony.
He recounts the symbolic violence he endured, the moments of happiness, the rare privilege of growing up in a single foster family, but also the lingering sense of precariousness and vulnerability that followed him. Despite the hardships, his book is,
above all, a testament to resilience or rather, as Boris Martin would put it, anastylosis.
Anastylosis, from the ancient Greek αναστήλωσις (ana, “again,” and stéloō, “to erect”), is an archaeological and architectural term referring to the reconstruction of a structure from its ruins. Boris Martin applies this concept to his own life, making renewal his personal mantra.
A Call for Recognition and Dialogue
The final moments of the event were dedicated to an open exchange with the audience, revealing a shared realization : these topics are difficult to discuss, yet opening the dialogue is essential. Addressing the realities of foster care, the challenges within the child protection system, and the journeys of resilience is crucial to raising awareness and inspiring the young people affected.
Boris Martin emphasized the importance of amplifying the voices of children in care and paying tribute to the social workers who support them. “From a single life story, there is a ripple effect on all lives,” he remarked, highlighting the collective impact of his testimony.
Photo credit : Caroline Vitaglione
