Wednesday, July 6, 2011, at 4 PM at the Centre Communal d’Action Sociale (CCAS) in Nice
The law on Voluntary Civic Service was passed on March 10, 2010, replacing the Voluntary Civil Service created in 2006.
The civic service is aimed at young people aged 16 to 25 for a period of 6 to 12 months, either of French nationality or residing in France for more than a year.
Within this framework, and on the theme of Solidarity, the CCAS of Nice signed an agreement on July 15, 2010, with the Unis-Cité Méditerranée Association to integrate 12 volunteers within the CCAS establishments in Nice for a period of 9 months.
The Unis Cité association was responsible for mentoring the young volunteers. The young people participated three days a week in the services:
With the elderly: they participated in regular and specific animation activities, assisted residents in their various movements providing support for daily life activities;
With the collaboration of the residents and the animators, the volunteers were able to carry out several projects:
Within the St Barthélémy Residence, they set up a relaxation workshop, a computer workshop, and a Wii session; they also enhanced the weekly bingo animation and created an intergenerational play.
At the Veterans’ Retirement Home, they actively participated in creating an aromatic and therapeutic garden (three sessions per week).
Finally, within the Alzheimer’s Day Care, the young volunteers created a special Christmas workshop.
With people in precarious situations
They participated in daily reception activities, accompanied users on outings and offered workshops linked to empowerment.
With the collaboration of the Day Care Center users, the volunteers were able to carry out several projects including:
- A two-way language workshop (learning French for foreign users and learning a foreign language for the young people)
- A hairdressing workshop
- A recycling workshop
Thus, during these 9 months, the young volunteers gained both interpersonal and practical skills while dedicating their time and energy to the community.
This experience allowed the young people to find a vocation. Some of them truly discovered a professional path and profile they wish to pursue, such as working as educators with precarious populations or as medical-psychological aides…
The presence of these young volunteers brought a breath of fresh air to the various CCAS establishments and helped forge new social ties between the users, the staff, and the young people.
After having fully completed their missions, Dominique Estrosi-Sassone and Jean-Michel Galy will present them with their diploma tomorrow, allowing them to leverage this experience for professional orientation or job searching.
