(ANS - Paris)- Le Valdocco is an association founded in 1995 in Argenteuil, a district of the Parisian suburbs that was disturbed by the violence of urban riots in the early 90s. The association was formed as a result of a meeting between a group of residents concerned about the future of their children and the Salesians of Don Bosco, eager to revive the pedagogical model of their founder in the present situation in  the suburbs.

At Argenteuil Le Valdocco can count on several teams of street educators who go out to meet young people in situations of risk. They also have a day centre for teenagers who have dropped out of school.

In 2005 they opened a new centre in Lyons, and here too, with the help of a team of street educators, they offer alternatives to young people from the suburbs. They also run a centre for social rehabilitation and educational activities for troubled teenagers sent by the Juvenile Court.

In 2012, the Le Valdocco model was replicated in Nice, with educational support services, and the association is currently planning another centre in Lille, to be opened in 2014. The formula is always the same: meeting young people in their families, in schools and in housing estates.

The association has also started an Institute for Vocational Training         (Institut de formation aux métiers de la ville - IFMV ) to give social workers, teachers and business executives a better understanding of youth issues.

The founder and first Director of this initiative, which has now spread to the Centre, South and North of France, is Fr Jean-Marie Petitclerc, SDB. Last February he was succeeded as Director by a layman, François Le Clere, a professional educator who did some of his training at Le Valdocco. Fr Petitclerc now devotes his attention to the further development of IFMV.
 

Published 07/03/2014