Short-term (2 to 4 weeks) "festival" projects in France

Every two years, the Youth Department of the City of Le Mans organises a Youth Forum, highlighting the Youth actions organised by the city and by partner associations.
Concordia has been working with the City on youth engagement and international mobility for nearly 10 years. We are regularly invited by the Youth Department to participate in the Youth Forum: organisation of workshops, presentation of our actions, and support for youth projects.
This year, the Youth Department wanted to strengthen the partnership with Concordia by organizing a volunteer project around the Youth Forum involving internationals and locals. Their aim is to be able to gather the opinions of young people living in the City on their lives in Le Mans as young people and citizens.
The project will therefore be a way to gather the voices of the young people of Le Mans and present the work carried out to elected officials and residents during the Youth Forum. Besides the realization of this project, hosting a workcamp contributes to the city’s ambition for exchanges and encounters of cultures. This workcamp will allow young locals to be sensitized to intercultural encounters and dedication with an international dimension. Particular attention will be paid to meetings with local stakeholders and residents.

During the first days you will participate in workshops to learn more about video tools and participatory methods (putting up signs, street surveys......). You will be accompanied by your camp leaders; these practical workshops will then allow you to meet young people in different areas of the City: city centre, working-class districts, and to gather their opinions on their life in Le Mans as a young person and citizen. Then, you will make the video montage for a presentation to elected officials and residents and create wooden panels to present the testimonies. The two tools, video and wooden panels, will be presented at the Youth Forum on September 20 and 21.

You will be sharing a basic collective accommodation in 2 flats in the neighbourhood. There will be rooms of 4 or 5 people with mattresses provided by Concordia. The group will be sharing the cleaning chores and preparing meals together. The budget will be allocated to the group leader and you will participate in the preparation of dishes with good products from the market and local producers. Bring your sleeping-bag with you.

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 of 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 to enhance its local heritage. Two rivers cross the city which has been named 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

The project is being carried out in an urban environment; in working-class neighbourhoods as well as Downtown. You should be interested in video, participatory animation and be ready to meet and interact with other young people.

We ask you to write a motivation letter to validate your inscription on the workcamp.
Bring raining clothes and clothes for outdoor activities, and sport shoes.
Do not hesitate to bring activities from home such as photos, games, musical instruments, etc.

Le Mans train station.

Paris.