Les Chariots Solidaires: a second chance for young people and materials
Combining integration into the workforce with environmental protection: that is the aim of SXM’s Chariots Solidaires. As part of the O2R scheme, twelve young people, in partnership with the Compagnons Bâtisseurs, are building trolleys from recycled materials, before using them to clean the island’s beaches.
Giving waste a new lease of life whilst opening up new horizons for young people who are struggling to find work. This is the aim of the ‘Les Chariots Solidaires de SXM’ project, carried out as part of the O2R (Second Chance Guidance towards Success) scheme led by ALEFPA, in partnership with the Compagnons Bâtisseurs. The idea is to design two collection trolleys for cleaning the coastline, using materials salvaged from the beaches.
Learning by doing with the Compagnons Bâtisseurs
Pallets, wheels from old bicycles, discarded fishing nets: the participants took advantage of their beach clean-up to collect the necessary materials, then devised equipment suitable for moving across the sand. Supported by the Compagnons Bâtisseurs, they were able to discover the skills involved in construction and craftsmanship: measuring, cutting, sanding, assembling and handling tools whilst following safety guidelines.
The project focuses on learning by doing to develop self-confidence, creativity and team spirit. Rick, Jefferson and the other young people involved in the scheme will soon be visiting the Living Museum at Hope Estate to personalise their trolleys with colourful awareness-raising messages in French, English and Creole. The trolleys will then remain available for future community collections, to extend the impact of this initiative.
Environmental awareness campaign led by the Nature Reserve
This initiative is also linked to other parallel events: at the end of September, a day of dialogue with the Nature Reserve’s police force provided an opportunity to discuss coastal issues and raise these young people’s awareness of the local flora and fauna. The young people also took part in the Nature Reserve’s nursery project, which aims to collect mangrove seeds for replanting around Baie Orientale. The large-scale project to create artificial meanders on the site of the former landfill also caught the attention of the young volunteers, demonstrating to them that nature can reclaim a site that was once exploited. The ultimate aim is to turn it into a site for birdwatchers and to breathe new life into this neglected area.
For Frédéric Sock, coordinator of ALEFPA’s Youth Programme, “it’s about linking the work carried out on the ground to a better understanding of the island’s environmental issues.”
Through these various initiatives, the project aims to demonstrate that an environmental project can also serve as a tool for re-engagement and professional integration.
