2nd Stakeholder group meeting in Bobigny
On February 26, the YESVolunteer project brought together key stakeholders in Bobigny at the Mission Locale de la Lyr for a discussion on youth mobility. Participants included local NGO dedicated to support youth with fewer opportunities (« Prévention Spécialisée Canal », “Parcours le Monde”, “Planet Citizens”, the « Mission Locale de la Dhuys »,) and the Education and Youth Ministry. The roundtable, led by Pierre Marragou, addressed the barriers preventing young people from taking part in volunteer experiences abroad, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The main challenges identified were a lack of awareness about volunteer opportunities, the struggle to balance volunteering with job prospects, language and administrative barriers, and concerns about accommodation and loneliness while abroad. To overcome these, participants proposed solutions like stronger partnerships between national and European volunteer programs, better training for professionals, and a push for greater awareness. Group departures for international projects were also suggested to make the experience less daunting.
The event coincided with the second edition of the European and International Mobility Forum of Seine-Saint-Denis, which attracted over 100 attendees, including young people and professionals. The forum served as an important milestone in promoting youth mobility in the Seine-Saint-Denis region, offering insights and success stories from those who have volunteered abroad.