TOGETHER, LIVEN UP THE DISTRICTS!

Name: TOGETHER, LIVEN UP THE DISTRICTS!
Start: 2022-08-03
End: 2022-08-24
Location: Le Mans, France

France Art Social work Art Social work Fixed dates

About the project

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

The regional office of Concordia in Normandy Maine has been set up for 12 years in the Sablons district with the aim of implementing various volunteer actions and international projects, in order to participate in the opening of the district to the outside world. Most of our actions take place in the public space. We are working with a neighbouring non-profit organization, which is located in the same street as us. The association L'Arbre is a place for meeting and listening. Its aim is to promote harmonious cooperation in the district and the well-being of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood with a particular work oriented towards the inhabitants in difficulties. The objective of this project is to create a meeting between the inhabitants of the district (young and old) and young international volunteers, thanks to a workcamp based on the renovation of a community centre and collective outdoor activities for the inhabitants.

💼 What the programme involves

Come in Le Mans, in the heart of the Sarthe region, to liven up the neighbourhood and to free your imagination! This year, we are in partnership with a local association, L'Arbre, which is in charge of providing social support to inhabitants in difficulties in the neighbourhood. This association has large premises in poor condition open to residents and associations. Last year, the workcamp focused on the renovation of the interior of the premises (creation of an artistic fresco). The project of this year will focus on two objectives: renovation of the exterior walls of the premises with the inhabitants (painting of the walls and creation of an artistic fresco), and the organisation of animations in the neighbourhood with the local kids and the inhabitants. It will allow the valorisation of their artistic and cultural abilities. The volunteers will also be in charge of organizing a festive animation at the end of the project with and for the inhabitants.

🏠 Accommodation on site

You will share a basic collective accommodation in 2 flats in the neighbourhood. There will be rooms of 2 or 3 people with mattresses provided by Concordia. The group will share the cleaning tasks and prepare meals together. The budget will be allocated to the group leaders; and you will participate in the preparation of meals with good products from the market and local producers. Bring your sleeping-bag with you. The organisation of the accommodation will be adapted to the sanitary situation.

📍 About the location

Le Mans (143.000 inhabitants) is located in the West of France. It is the administrative centre of the Sarthe County, in the Pays de La Loire region (50 min from Paris, and 1h30 from Nantes by train). You will have time to discover the city. Le Mans is a beautiful artistic and historical city; it is the third one in the Pays de la Loire region when it comes to culture and tourism. The old city centre is surrounded by Roman walls and the most recent renovation works organised to preserve the oldest parts of Le Mans have helped enhancing its local heritage. Two rivers cross this pretty town, which has been ranked as one of France greenest cities. You can find various parks and gardens, in addition to the two big forests bordering the city. For more information about the city: www.lemans.fr

⚠️ Requirements

ℹ️ Additional information

The project takes place in an urban environment; in a popular district. You should be interested in working with children/youth and come with ideas for activities (original games, outdoor activities, workshops about recycling and materials recovery…), and for the artistic fresco creation. We ask you to write a motivation letter to validate your inscription on this workcamp. Please don’t forget to bring a raincoat and clothes for outdoor activities, as well as sport shoes. Do not hesitate to bring activities from home such as photos, games, musical instruments, etc. Foreigners belonging to the European Union must bring with them a personal EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), and everybody must, in any case, bring their insurance certificate. If health issues happen on the project, volunteers will have to pay for it, and will then be reimbursed once back in their home country. This project is supported by the program European Solidarity Corps (ESC) for young people between 18 and 30 years. It is open to all volunteers that fit the ESC criteria. The participation to the ESC volunteering teams is subjects to several principles and conditions, presented on the ESC webpage: https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity/mission_en - volunteers do not have to pay any fee (not sending, nor participation fee) to attend the project and will receive a financial support for their travel, according to a maximum amount established in accordance with their travel distance and upon the presentation of original tickets; - volunteers need to enrol in the PASS, the ESC Portal; then Concordia France will organise their matching, on the online system, with the volunteering project; - volunteers will receive pocket money, calculated on basis of 6€/day, once they arrive on the project in France; - volunteers will have to complete a participation report, submitted online through the portal.

Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.