At all IUHPFL sites, one long-held tradition is for students to visit the mayor’s office or town hall. Deputy Mayor Marcus Néron went above and beyond with the connections he made with the students in Saumur. He went out of his way to work with them at various events and activities, participating in the same community service the students did. On each occasion, he expressed interest in the students and program and helped maintain the partnership between IUHPFL and Saumur.
Mayor Néron first helped organize a cleanup of the River Thouet for IUHPFL. This river is an offshoot of the larger Loire River that runs through Saumur. Mayor Néron accompanied students in their efforts to help beautify the city.
Later, the Saumur team made the traditional visit to the town hall. Deputy Mayor Néron and another local mayor listened to the students during a round table discussion about the Olympics and para sports. Then, the group sang the national anthems of France and the US, and a few students presented speeches to the mayors. Finally, gifts were exchanged, and Mayor Néron received an IUHPFL t-shirt!
Mayor Néron was kind enough to continue the partnership by extending an invitation to jog through the city with any students who were interested. Five IUHPFL students took him up on his offer and got to see the city through the eyes of a local.
At the end of the students’ time in Saumur, Deputy Mayor Néron attended the IUHPFL Farewell Show. He watched as the students sang, danced, and completed skits for their host families and other locals. We are so glad Mayor Néron took the time to connect with our program! He certainly helped the students engage with the local culture and politics of Saumur.
