"Banlieues du monde"

“International Solidarity, a New Challenge for the Community” *

OUR ROLE

Banlieues Du Monde (BDM) is an organization whose mission is to encourage the social and professional insertion of the youth from poor, disadvantaged neighborhoods, or “banlieues”. BDM supports dynamic local development and aims to promote citizenship through international solidarity.

Banlieues Du Monde (BDM) was founded in March 1997. However, the concept for the association dates back to 1992, when actions of solidarity were first initiated in Africa.

In order to accomplish its goal of international solidarity, Banlieues Du Monde accompanies groups who wish to launch a project but who lack the structure or resources to do so. The intervention of BDM occurs during three phases of a group’s project :

1. Preparation

2. Realization

3. Restoration

Thus, Banlieues Du Monde has a role of advising, accompaniment, evaluation, and of guarantee through its sponsors, both private and public. BDM is a unique because it breaks away from the traditional model of creating youth projects that consider the youth only as consumers, and not as active participants and initiators of their own projects. The association proposes another approach founded on listening, the importance of local dynamics and the exchange of experiences.

The approach of the organization is thus to support the initiatives of local development in the North as well as in the South. BANLIEUES DU MONDE provides another alternative based on an active participation of individuals in the “management of their community”, creating real Citizens of the World.

OUR RESSOURCES

Our Networks

In France, Banlieues Du Monde is composed of a network of associative partners, including neighborhood associations, clubs for prevention, youth municipal services, and organizations for international solidarity created by migrants. In Africa, Banlieues Du Monde created its own network (BDM Mali, BDM Guinea, BDM Senegal) that assesses that eminent needs of local populations, through the civil society. BDM’s groups organize the welcoming in the country itself.

Grants for Projects

This grant is made up of projects evaluated by the African network in the following domains : support for health, education, sports activities, cultural promotion, and micro-economic projects. This grant permits BDM to assure the appropriate link between the youth groups who initiate projects in France and the groups in Africa.

Development Education and Training

Banlieues Du Monde organizes training sessions, both centralized and decentralized with the assistance of professionals from the associative sector and other sectors. These sessions focus on awareness of the goals of the operation : the elaboration of the project, budget setting, financial research, intercultural exchange, and North-South relations (cooperation and development).

On-site Learning

Actions of international solidarity are essential to BDM’s local development projects. The projects include renovation or construction, which integrate socio-cultural, athletic, and economic elements. BDM’s projects also focus on politics of health, literacy teaching, rural development, etc.

Cultural Activities

During the stay, cultural excursions as well as the participation the local daily life permits the young people to confront cultural differences. These are the elements, therefore, that trigger the desired psychological shock of awareness and understanding.

OUR OBJECTIVES

Insertion of the Youth

In the North, the youth from underprivileged areas are required to take the steps necessary to formally present their project, including initiatives that lead to their professional insertion. In the South, the youth who participate in the actions profit in becoming actors in their own local development.

Local Development in the South

These projects focus on a durable development respectful of the environment, and respond to the requests of local populations. The operation fits into a dynamic of development already set in motion in the South and therefore accomplished in partnership.

Cultural Exchanges

The discovery of other ways of living and of cultural practices pushes the youth of the North to have a different perspective of their own environment. Upon returning to France, they perceive differently the problem of their insertion in the society. In the South, there is a certain demystification of Europe and its ways of life. The populations that welcome them in the South perceive differently the realities of the North.