The idea of some kind of voluntary service was supported by such prominent figures as l'Abbé Pierre, founder of deprivation charity Emmaus, who suggested that governments in all countries should send an appeal to the young people for voluntary service, similar to military service, but to "accomplish peace-building tasks".
Jean Marc Ayrault, former mayor of Nantes, described Service Civique as "an act of trust in the young" when it was launched in early 2010.
SC is accessible to any French national aged 16 to 25 who can commit to carrying out a community assignment for a minimum of six months. In return, they receive an allowance of around €500 (£446) a month, 80 per cent covered by the state, and accrue rights such as having social security paid for by the government.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
