Ambassador of cultural and youth projects - MJC de Villeneuve-la-Garenne

In the MJC where I am a European volunteer, just outside the gates of Paris, I mainly work on organizing cultural events. Together with a colleague doing civic service, we identified several particularly significant dates during the 2019/2020 year on which to propose cultural events linked to a specific theme, to complement the activities that are offered on a weekly basis.

For example, we organized an environmental-themed film forum, during which several local associations were able to speak and answer questions from the audience; a conference with a visually impaired filmmaker who screened his travel documentary; and a disability awareness day, during which some primary school classes took part in a workshop with two women with disabilities. In the same way, we will organize a week to commemorate the Holocaust, a day dedicated to European citizenship with exhibitions and workshops, a day focused on women’s rights, and many other initiatives.

We have also received training in the use of web radio, which we will put into practice in 2020 by producing themed podcasts. At the same time, twice a week I teach a beginner-level English course for adults, where we learn the basics of the language, conversation, and listening skills in a friendly and dynamic atmosphere.

The spirit that drives this association and these projects is the search for authentic contact with the people who give life to the city, with the aim of encouraging the practice of active citizenship around issues of collective interest. In this way, we try to contribute to ensuring that in a complex social fabric such as the Parisian suburbs—where inequalities in access to schooling, training, and culture can be stark and discriminatory—the entire population can recognize itself in an inclusive, open, and stimulating place.

Francesco