France, May 13 -- One year ago, on 13 May, 2024, violent riots broke out in New Caledonia. Sparked by a controversial electoral reform, the unrest lasted several months, resulting in 14 deaths and causing at least two billion euros in damages. I

In the capital, Noumea, some neighborhoods are still struggling to recover. But a year after the riots, new initiatives are emerging to bring life back to these areas and rebuild social ties.

Still struggling

A bit of music drifts from an open restaurant, where mothers are running a small market. Nothing extraordinary -and yet, the scene is exceptional in Kamere.

In this working-class neighborhood of Noumea, the only supermarket was burned down in May 2024, along with the pharmacy, part of the...