Adolescence and citizenship

A lack of socio-educational infrastructure is standard in large underprivileged inner-city neighbourhoods. While confronted by problematic family situations (lack of structure, alcoholism, violence, unemployment) that lead to many children starting school late (between 2 and 4 years old), adolescents must also face the pressure of gangs who take advantage of their lack of occupation.

In order to encourage a sense of citizenship and create social connections, our projects aim to promote the social integration of young people through participation in concrete activities. The goal is to strengthen their ability to become a force of thought and action within their environment (family, neighborhood or city). Working from the adolescents' expectations, we try to reinforce their self-confidence, their ability to work in groups, to imagine their future, and to engage in their social environment – factors that will help promote the socio-economic integration of young people and the community dynamic in the affected neighborhoods.

We conduct a great deal of human resource training, particularly for social educators from these neighborhoods.

Over the course of one year, various activities are proposed to voluntary groups of teenagers:

- Participatory debate workshops on specific themes: the birth and life of groups, gender relations, emotional and sexual life, drug abuse and prevention, professional goals and life projects, family violence prevention, etc.

- Sports, educational and cultural outings organized by teenagers themselves with the help of an educator

- Preprofessional training and business internships for older teenagers, working directly with local training associations

- Parent-adolescent workshops on questions like social risks, communication with young people, etc., supplemented by home visits

- Community integration activities involving themed days, community service with children or the elderly, etc.

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