Unis-Cit

1
Unis-Cité, France

• Presentation at IANYSs 6th conference on
  National Youth Service
• September 2002

2
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

3
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
  solidarityhas been made provision for by law but
  is not implemented
• Unis-Cité is the most important full time
  voluntary service program in France

4
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 tomorrows
  society and to fight exclusions on the field.

5
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

6
Festival du Service Volontaire 28 et 29 mai -
Paris Lyon
7
Festival du Service Volontaire 28 et 29 mai -
Paris Lyon
8
Festival du Service Volontaire 28 et 29 mai -
Paris Lyon
9
Festival du Service Volontaire 28 et 29 mai -
Paris Lyon
10
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

11
Festival du Service Volontaire 28 et 29 mai -
Paris Lyon
12
The impact on young peoples 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

13
The impact on young peoples 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.

14
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.

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Festival du Service Volontaire 28 et 29 mai -
Paris Lyon