Striving for environmental protection with a younger generation in France
Striving for environmental protection with a younger generation in France
Today, the environment is an important cause that the younger generation wants to commit to, and in parallel, territorial authorities are willing to take concrete actions to fight against the dramatic decline in biodiversity, and the ecologic crisis more widely. Since November 2023, the Alstom Foundation has partnered up with Unis-Cité to support the deployment of its Civic Service programme, “Ecovolonterre”.
Created in 2017, in cooperation with the Fondation pour la Nature et l’Homme (FNH), this programme allows young people from 16 to 25 years old to take part in missions, that particularly meets their needs and interests in protecting the environment.
"During these 8 months of Civic Service, I learned to practice more teamwork, to understand and better listen to my peers. I loved to work outdoors. After this mission, I will be looking for a job in environmental law. In November, I will go through the public administration competition exam “attachée territoriale”."
This initiative has three objectives. First, enabling young people to strive for environmental protection by being more aware of current issues, and by participating in workcamps for various actions, such as the fauna and flora observation, protection, plantation, waste collection, etc. Secondly, the project aims to foster youth employability thanks to the skills developed during their Civic Service experience, such as oral expression, respect for others, the basics of citizenship, among others. Finally, it focuses on mobilising people to strengthen the impact of environmental associations through awareness-raising actions.
After a recruitment launched by 25 branches across France, 200 volunteers took part in the programme. A training phase started for them to familiarise with the various topics linked to biodiversity, so they could get ready with their first hands-on activities including, tree planting, building compost bins, and bird observation.
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200volunteers
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29,103trees and hedges planted
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920awareness-raising activities deployed
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982training hours
The project was very successful, with the involvement of 200 volunteers in the programme. 1,298 nature projects were conducted, with a strong focus on the development and the management of natural areas. The results are impressive: in total, 29,103 trees and hedges were planted, 9,509 m² invasive species were removed, 21,662 m² of land were cleared, 223 nesting boxes, insect houses and toad tunnels were built, and 17,522 kg of waste from natural sites were collected.
"This mission enabled me to learn more about biodiversity, and to take real action towards its preservation. We carried out on-the-field activities, notably a tree planting action to reforest a plot, or the sustaining of a local vegetable garden. I was sensitized to the wide variety of insects living in urban and semi-urban areas, on their role within biodiversity, and on the necessity to preserve such a natural wealth."
In parallel, the volunteers also carried out 920 awareness-raising actions, including 136 workshops on climate or biodiversity fresks. In total, 21,110 people benefited from this sensitisation programme, mainly young people and students.
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92%of the volunteers feel that their Civic Service allowed them to get more familiar with the biodiversity’s
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80%of them believe they have encouraged people who went through the awareness program to change their behaviour
