Compagnons Bâtisseurs: eight years already …

Supporting, building, renovating, but above all fostering connections. Since it was established in the area in 2018, the association has been working with people in need. “The story of the Compagnons Bâtisseurs in Saint Martin is quite unique,” says Suzanne de Cheveigné, president of the National Association of Compagnons Bâtisseurs. “The association was established in the aftermath of a natural disaster. It was the Fondation de France at the time that approached us to step in and support the reconstruction effort.” Following Hurricane Irma in 2017, the teams’ initial efforts focused on rebuilding the roofs of homes devastated by the storm. Subsequently, volunteers and staff gradually expanded their activities, contributing to housing improvements and supporting vulnerable communities in Saint-Martin. “ “Eight years of commitment, solidarity and practical action in the service of the region,” is how Maé Bridier, director of the Compagnons Bâtisseurs de Saint-Martin, describes the work of this association. To present its work to its partner and the general public, the organisation screened a video on Monday 27 April, retracing these years of projects and highlighting the faces and stories of the beneficiaries. In total in 2025, the Compagnons Bâtisseurs carried out forty-two housing improvement projects and worksites; they took on five employees on work integration schemes and welcomed 844 users to their community space in Quartier d’Orléans. Indeed, alongside its community building projects, the association offers civic and socio-cultural workshops, craft activities, collaborative DIY sessions and individual support with administrative procedures. In 2026, the organisation hopes to continue its work with a “permanent presence in Saint-Martin”, explains Suzanne de Cheveigné. This consistency enables them to embed their activities firmly within the local community.