On the occasion of the National Caregivers' Day, Université Paris Cité is highlighting the situation of student caregivers. These young people regularly provide care and/or support to a family member or loved one due to physical or mental health issues, or disabilities. This support can range from emotional aid and household tasks to assistance with daily living, managing illness, financial support, or caring for younger siblings.
A study reveals that 16% of students aged 18 to 25 are family caregivers. To help them identify their situation and the available resources, the university offers online questionnaires. These tools allow individuals to determine if they are affected and to discover the support services provided by the university throughout the year.
Université Paris Cité is committed to supporting these students. From September 28 to October 6, 2026, information stands, goodie distributions, snacks, and meetings will be held on various university sites and campuses. These activities aim to raise awareness about the caregiver status and the services implemented, and will be complemented by video capsules on UPCité's Instagram account.
The detailed program includes sessions on the Grands Moulins campuses (BU Hall and Olympe de Gouges Building), the Lacretelle site (UFR STAPS courtyard), the Saint-Germain-des-Prés campus (Grand hall), the Villemin site, the Malakoff site, the Cordeliers site (to be confirmed), the Boulogne site (Amphitheater Gallery), the Mirabeau site (IUT de Paris Rives de Seine), and the Observatoire site.
In addition to this week of mobilization, the university is offering a free theater-debate on November 9, 2026, at 6 PM, featuring the play "Le massacre du printemps" by Elsa Granat, followed by a panel discussion and a cocktail reception. An original podcast, "Who are the student caregivers?", is also available to showcase the diverse realities behind this term, with a second season planned for January 2027. Support groups are also scheduled from October 2026 to May 2027 across several UPCité sites.
