A review meeting of the “Businesses and Neighborhoods” project was held this Tuesday at the prefectural palace in Nice. Under the leadership of Elisabeth Fuchs (regional director – IMS) and Christine Dagonet (mission manager – CREPI Cรดte d’Azur), the conference reflected on the significant results of this project led by Prefect Adolphe Colrat and Subprefect Sรฉbastien Humbert.
On June 15, 2015, 58 partner companies of the project signed the “Businesses and Neighborhoods” charter and committed to contributing to the economic, social, and cultural development of the Priority Neighborhoods of the City and Urban Policy in Nice, Cannes, Vallauris, and Grasse.
Focusing mainly on four themes: education and school guidance / employment, integration, training / economic development / support for local initiatives or community services. Their goal was to help young people in unfavorable situations as much as possible to “integrate into the professional world,” emphasized Bernard Alfandari, CEO of Resistex, a program partner.
For Christine Dagonet, the review of each area of study is very satisfactory: “From September 2015 to the end of the first half of 2016, the project facilitated 430 meetings between young people and professionals through interview simulations, site visits, and workday simulations.” Fifty-one internships were found for them.
In terms of employment, 1154 positions were created, including 1050 temporary jobs, but as the project co-manager reminds us: “a temporary contract is still an employment contract.” For these young job seekers, 782 career guidance opportunities were provided during job cafe gatherings to exchange information, find internships, training, or job interviews.
The project also enabled the development of social integration clauses. A public construction site in an affected area, such as Les Moulins or Pasteur, for example, must provide job positions for residents of the neighborhood.
“Businesses and Neighborhoods” is also supported by many local associations that participate in helping young people enter the professional world.
The event “Together Let’s Move Employment for Youth,” which brought together 800 young people in Grasse last year, will have its second edition on September 29, 2016. It will cover basic yet crucial topics for employment and sustainability within companies, such as the art of public speaking and successful interview techniques, all orchestrated by professionals and academics.
Elisabeth Fuchs also highlighted the assistance of banks like BNP Paribas and La Banque Postale, which support the project and have enabled the release of microcredits to help families in need within these neighborhoods.
She also mentions the importance of social mediation and civic service organized in these locations by companies like Habitat.
Finally, both speakers praised the inter-company initiatives carried out during the past year. For them, the project as a whole is beneficial for everyone: both the youth and the participating companies.
Thibault Bourru.
