Volunteer on a Housing Project in France

Host organisation:

The Lil’Pouss shared housing project is run by the Chtites Maisons Solidaires association. It sees itself as a modest response, on a human scale but with a strong will, to some of the major issues of our time: social inequalities, poor housing, the depletion of resources, environmental degradation and climate change.

The aim of the association is to bring together people who enjoy good living conditions and people in difficult situations. The first agree to give up some of their comfort to enable the second to improve their lives. One example of this is the Lil’Pouss shared housing project, currently being set up in the Saint-Maurice – Pellevoisin area of Lille. It will eventually consist of five light, mobile, self-contained and environmentally friendly dwellings, known as tiny houses, and a communal meeting space. The tiny houses will remain on the site for a maximum of five years. They will be occupied by exiled people, homeless people, people from the Roma culture, people looking for a frugal lifestyle and by two civic service volunteers. The families who need them will receive support in finding work and accessing all their social rights.

Location:

Lille, France

Length:

8 months

About the French Service Civique:

This mission is framed through the French Service Civique program. Service Civique is a voluntary commitment scheme run by the French government, aimed at young people aged 16 to 25 (up to 30 for people with disabilities).

It can be carried out in associations, municipalities or public establishments (in France and abroad).

Throughout the period of volunteering, the person is supervised by a tutor, who ensures that the assignment runs smoothly and that the conditions of the placement are appropriate. The tutor is there to listen to the volunteer throughout the assignment.

Service Civique missions cover a wide range of fields, including culture and leisure, education, solidarity, the environment, citizenship, etc.

Finally, a Civic Service mission can evolve through the volunteer’s initiative.

Project Description:

The main aim of this assignment is to provide logistical and human support to help maintain links between local residents, neighbours and the general public, and to help promote the project.

More specifically, the volunteer will :

taking part in the organisation of social life (meetings of a residents’ council/association, organising the sharing of common tasks, material management of the space) ;
helping to run the project: organising events for residents of the project and the neighbourhood (clubs, cinema, solidarity meals, solidarity concerts, etc.), environmental and eco-construction workshops (learning about the Tiny House concept, eco-responsible gestures, Do It Yourself, etc.);
helping to promote the project to the public (forums, themed cafés) and on social networks (sharing their personal experiences).

Compensation:

The volunteer will receive a monthly allowance of €504 from the government. An additional €114 will be given in kind by the association in the form of a reduction in the rent, which will be reduced to €236 per month.

Accomodation:

The volunteer(s) will be accommodated in a tiny house at the heart of the project. The volunteer undertakes to pay €236 a month in rent to the association.

Training:

During their placement, volunteers will receive civic and citizenship training (focusing on interculturality, conflict resolution and non-violent communication) as well as first aid training.

Profile of the volunteer:

No particular skills, experience or qualifications are required from the volunteer for this assignment. During the course of the assignment, the volunteer will receive training in the tasks to be performed.

The volunteer’s role will be to support and accompany the host organization’s employees in their daily tasks. He or she will try to bring an outside perspective to the project.

The only selection criteria will be :

the motivation;
the interest in the fight against inequality and an eco-responsible lifestyle
the interpersonal skills

Lil’Pouss shared housing project in France