Problem addressed
The financial insecurity faced by students is a major social issue: according to the latest survey by the Observatoire de la Vie Etudiante (OVE), 54 per cent of students report experiencing financial difficulties and 45 per cent work whilst studying, often taking on jobs that come at the expense of their studies. In order to cope with these difficulties, spending on food and healthcare is often the first to be cut back.
Innovative solution
The AGORAé project aims to provide services to students and to foster social connections. It is a space for inclusion, exchange and solidarity, run by students for students, comprising:
- a student hub open to all, which hosts activities organised by volunteers and participants. Furthermore, this space enables students to find out about their entitlements, obtain advice on everyday life (nutrition, responsible consumption, etc.), develop project management skills, gain an introduction to the voluntary sector and foster solidarity.
- a solidarity grocery shop accessible on the basis of social criteria, where students can stock up on food, cleaning products or school supplies at reduced prices (between 10 and 30 per cent below standard prices). Thus, an AGORAé is a social innovation project within the field of the social and solidarity economy. It provides a local response to a real and identified need. This project embodies fundamental values such as solidarity, citizenship and commitment.
Management of AGORAé
AGORAé are run at local level by a team of volunteers from the federation or association responsible for the local AGORAé. The volunteers are supported by young people on civic service placements, as well as by the FAGE’s national team.
At national level, the AGORAé project is led by the FAGE’s national team, which ensures the project’s development and sustainability, and helps to overcome any difficulties that local teams may encounter.
This dual structure enables the creation of a strong and sustainable network, and ensures a positive impact for the beneficiaries.
Key results and benefits
41 AGORAé has been open since 2011
100 Activities organised each year in the AGORAé community space
250 Tonnes of food distributed each year
68,380 Beneficiaries since 2011
30 Volunteers involved in the day-to-day running of AGORAé
700 Civic Service volunteers since 2011
Potential for mainstreaming
The first shop opened in Lyon in 2011. Today, there are 41 shops in operation across most of the country.
Before an AGORAé is set up on a campus, a local assessment is carried out to analyse existing facilities, along with a survey of students to assess their needs.
AGORAé is a laureate of the 2017–2018 cohort of the P'INS scale-up support programme, jointly run by Fondation Macif and Avise.
