This Friday, the Civic Service volunteers ceremony took place in the Auditorium of the MAMAC in Nice. On this occasion, 195 young people received their certificates in the presence of Dominique Estrosi Sassone, senator of the Alpes-Maritimes.
The Civic Service has experienced a real boom since its creation with the law of March 10, 2010, by Martin Hirsch. In almost 10 years, the number of young people benefiting from this commitment contract has jumped from 6,000 to 350,000. It can be defined as an opportunity for young people aged between 18 and 25 (up to 30 for those with disabilities) to engage in a host structure as a volunteer serving the general interest. To date, 11,000 organizations are approved by the Civic Service Agency, including associations, public institutions, or public companies. Young people can therefore invest in nine areas recognized as national priorities, such as the environment, culture and leisure, or education for all.
“You all have different life paths and cultures in a country that is fractured today. The youth has not been spared from this fracture, but diversity is a wealth. We must show our solidarity by forming a unity where everyone can express their difference,” said Dominique Estrosi Sassone to a nearly full auditorium. Just under 200 young people received their certificates as a reward for their periods of commitment (from 8 to 12 months). Some took the opportunity to share their testimonies, always emphasizing the richness of the encounters and the learning of new skills during the Civic Service.
“I was at the end of my studies, and I wanted to discover a new field. In nine months of engagement, I was able to develop self-confidence and defend my ideas. I was able to open up to people thanks to the different missions I was given, and I always found it interesting,” recounts Alexandra Pisano, who was awarded during the ceremony.
The government, following the missions of the Civic Service, announced in 2018 the upcoming creation of the Universal National Service. This will take place between the ages of 16 and 18, imposing a one-month civic service during this period. It aims to affirm the values of the Republic and cultivate the value of commitment. It should be generalized by 2021.
