ESC: Living better together animating the social life: from EU to local level to boost rural development

Le Foyer Rural CEPAGE (FR CEPAGE) or (CEPAGE), is a local development association in rural areas created in 1987, which offers a variety of services to the public with the aim of developing active citizenship and non-formal education. It is part of the network of Foyers Ruraux and as such is recognized as a popular education organization and a complementary educational association. The structure employs 6 permanent employees. The social context in which it operates is particularly difficult ; established in Puget-Théniers, a rural area in the Alpes-Maritimes, CEPAGE works with young and adult audiences suffering from numerous social, geographic and economic exclusions. Its activities consist of working on local development by promoting citizen participation by all means. CEPAGE offers projects or is part of mechanisms allowing it to achieve its goals. Our association promotes and uses working methods such as non-formal learning and experimentation, co-education and co-training, taking initiatives, but also, when necessary, professional training. It promotes, towards beneficiaries as well as towards individuals working within the association, continuous support instead of assistance. The activities offered by FR CEPAGE are based on three axes: training, information, animation. - In terms of information: The Foyer Rural CEPAGE, was the hosting structure of the Carrefour Rural Européen in the PACA region from 1998 to 2004 and then until 2021 the hosting structure of a Center Europe Direct Information Network (CIED) an official network of regional informations and activities on European issues ; The FR CEPAGE is also host of MFS system : Maison France Services (Centre for Public Services) - Erasmus + projects : Le FR CEPAGE has coordinated and participated in European Erasmus + projects in the recent years. At this moment we coordinate the strategic partnership of exchange of good practices "EuroYouth Médialab". The project brings together a Spanish, Polish, Bulgarian and Italian partner and aims to develop the autonomy and cooperation between different groups of young media reporters to create an active European citizenship through meetings in their countries and abroad. The groups are formed by young people who are willing to reflect on European topics that interest them and collaborate internationally for producing information and reports about them. The French group médialab hosted by Foyer Rural CEPAGE brings together around ten young people as part of educational activities for European citizenship (Animation of collaborative workshops, organization of video reports with and by young people ...) - In terms of social and regional animation: it is labeled MFS and Regional Internet Citizen Space (democratization of the use of Information and Communication Technologies, animation of workshops, media education) It is also labeled Relais de Services Publics and Espace Régional Internet Citoyen (Democratization of the use of ICT), animation of workshops and media education. - The FR CEPAGE is also a social center. The social centers are structures of proximity that animate democratic debate, accompany the projects of the inhabitants and build better living conditions. The social center proposes social, educational, family, and cultural activities to respond to the needs of the territory. Our association offers projects which within the framework of achieving its goals. To carry out its activities, the CEPAGE is part of many partnerships and networks. - In terms of training: The FR CEPAGE, had the approval of "youth and popular education ”, it is therefore necessary in its organization of work to guarantee, among other things, the freedom of conscience, respect for the principle of non-discrimination, democratic functioning and transparency of its management. Our association has benefited from a public contract with the PACA region and in this context offers a Territorial Access to First Knowledge as well as a Territorial Access to Qualification Space (on average 50 trainees in vocational training at year).