Today, we're conducting a short interview with Julien Le Guen, Martinique manager for the Siel Bleu Association! Don't hesitate to follow him on social networks, where he posts progress reports on his work!
Hello Julien! Can you introduce yourself? And tell us about your career at Siel Bleu?
Of course! like many after my Adapted Physical Activity and Health degree, I applied to the Siel Bleu Association.
Morgane CONSTANT, Inter-Regional Manager for the West, recruited me and I joined the L'Orne en Normandie team as Prevention Officer in 2009. When my departmental manager left, I took over his post from 2013 until 2022, when I took a sabbatical to spend in Martinique with my wife and children. I did something else and it did me good! At the same time, we talked to Jean-Daniel (one of the two co-founders) about the feasibility of developing Siel Bleu in Martinique, and we concluded that it was worth the risk.
I first worked as a development officer for the 1st year, then as a departmental manager since July 2024.
How did the Siel Bleu Martinique project come about?
I must admit that when I left for my sabbatical year, I had already discussed the subject with Jean-Daniel, so he knew what I wanted. I think we did quite a bit of preparation for the Siel Bleu project in Martinique, even though there were a lot of things we didn't know at the time (the number of APA teachers in the area, the areas where there was a need...).
Initially, there had been a similar attempt a few years ago in Guadeloupe. So I only had this feedback, and several colleagues had already worked on the project for Martinique, but it hadn't come to fruition. Still, it gave me a good basis on which to start and draw up an action plan!
There's a whole context to be understood and felt here before making the decision to set up home: a social context, an isolation and a "entre-soi" that you have to manage, a distance from family and friends for yourself and the people who live with you... The sabbatical year was a founding element for me to be able to project myself into the genesis of Siel Bleu in Martinique.
What is the current situation at Siel Bleu Martinique? What projects are underway?
We ended 2024 with 120 people supported over the year, with institutions that have followed us, and continue to do so in 2025 (Agirc-Arrco, AG2R La Mondiale, Caisse Générale de Sécurité Sociale de Martinique, etc).
We also take part in the major projects that come out of the national level: in particular Justin'movE and La Récré Sportive Inclusive, which I develop outside myAPA hours in the field, and local projects:
- 6 "Balance in Blue" cycles of 1 conference + 12 sessions
- 10 cycles of 10 sessions + 1 home assessment + 1 equipment kit for people who have had a stroke
- 6 one-off events (1/2 days) to raise awareness of the need to prevent balance disorders.
In any case, we're delighted that our partners are now behind us, and that we're now a recognized player in theAPA field on the island. So I'm working hard to confirm our reputation and the quality of our interventions, evaluations and project follow-up, so that we can become even more widely recognized!
Thanks again to Julien, and we'll be following Siel Bleu Martinique's progress with great interest in the future!
