Unis-Cité, France Presentation at IANYS’s 6th conference on National Youth Service September...
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Transcript of Unis-Cité, France Presentation at IANYS’s 6th conference on National Youth Service September...
Unis-Cité, France
Presentation at IANYS’s 6th conference on National Youth Service
September 2002
National Youth Servicethe context in France
1) youth occasionnal volunteering is quite developed but not particularly promoted & valorized
2) Full time volunteering is still illegal, beside :
• voluntary service in developing countries - recognized and government funded - not much developed
• civil form of military service for French boys - suspended in 1998
National Youth Servicethe context in France (suite)
• since March 2000, a national “Voluntary Civil Service” allows French & European young people (18 to 28) to volunteer full time :
• in French businesses and ambacies abroad• for internal security and customs
• Voluntary Civil Service “for social cohesion and solidarity”has been made provision for by law but is not implemented
Unis-Cité is the most important full time voluntary service program in France
Unis-Cité, United for the City
A French independant non-profit created in 1994 to experiment & lobby for a global NYS in
France :
to gather young people from all backgrounds & fight against racism and preconceived opinions
to give youth the opportunity to build tomorrow’s society and to fight exclusions “on the field”.
Unis-CitéA full time voluntary service
for 17 to 25 year-old young people, from all educational, social & religious backgrounds
involved for 6 to 9 months full time to serve community and fight against exclusions in France.
working in teams on concrete social projects with existing French not-for-profit organizations.
1/5 of their service is devoted to a “citizen and professional development training”.
To live, a monthly stipend of 382 Euros and tranportation costs and liability insurance covered
Festival du Service Volontaire28 et 29 mai - Paris & Lyon
Festival du Service Volontaire28 et 29 mai - Paris & Lyon
Festival du Service Volontaire28 et 29 mai - Paris & Lyon
Festival du Service Volontaire28 et 29 mai - Paris & Lyon
Accomplishments after six years :
350 volunteers hosted for 9 month full time about 250 service projects achieved programs developed in 5 major cities in
France, with head office in Paris financed both by private partners and public
collectivities & Ministries a unique “Volunteer Day of Action”
mobilizing 300 people every year since 95 In 99, a “Festival of Youth Voluntary Service”
to increase lobby for a global national program
important media coverage Government recognition
Festival du Service Volontaire28 et 29 mai - Paris & Lyon
The impact on young people’s life
A year off to better understand society and their role as active citizens
88 % of UC volunteers better understand society after their service year
A year to experience diversity and teamwork, a year to learn about others and increase their adaptation skills
A year of deep personal & human enrichment
88% of UC volunteers feel more lucid about their own capacities after their service
66% of them feel more self-confident and more responsable for their own life
The impact on young people’s life (suite)
A year off to prepare their own professional life : a pause to meet people and think of their own
project a way to create new networks a way to develop new skills
90 % of UC volunteers found a job after their service
about 50% of those without college degree resumed studying.
Perspectives...Come to a meaningfull national youth service program in France
A proven benefit both for youth and for the community as a whole
no adapted legal framework and substancial public funding to develop the concept in France
Unis-Cite will go on lobbying so that one day it will become natural in the eyes of every one,that every young people in France, French or non French & from all backgrounds, should spend a year serving the community.
Festival du Service Volontaire28 et 29 mai - Paris & Lyon