• The Universal National Service was set up in 2019 by Edouard Philippe to indirectly succeed military service.

  • In each department, more than a hundred volunteers, aged 15 to 17, gathered for a stay of twelve days.

  • In the Alpes-Maritimes, the site was at the international college of Cannes with the supervision, Hubert Hougue, Jérémy Crunchant and Marie-Christine Fix.

"It's a bit like when we go to the North, we cry twice: when we arrive and when we leave", jokes Hubert Hougue, head of the center of the Universal National Service (SNU) of the Alpes-Maritimes, which took place at the international college of Cannes. This program, set up by Edouard Philippe in 2019 to indirectly succeed military service, brought together 131 young people aged 15 to 17, volunteers who came mainly from Bouches-du-Rhône, Seine-et-Marne and Var. Friday, the last of the twelve days spent on the site, a certain emotion reigned during the goodbyes.

“They have changed, they are not the same kids, analyzes Jérémy Crunchant, educational assistant, who supervised the young people.

Today, they no longer have trouble waking up at 6.30 am to raise the flag and sing the Marseillaise ”.

Because yes, during this stay, the volunteers were there to “learn republican values, strengthen national cohesion and develop a culture of commitment”.

No phone during the day, all in uniform.

But the educational assistant, also a teacher in audiovisual BTS, specifies: “It is neither military service, nor high school, nor summer camp.

You have to know how to find a balance between these three institutions at the same time in order to convey the right message ”.

Recognized and valued training on the CV

Every day, from June 21 to July 2, the young people had activities related to the themes of citizenship, culture and heritage, the environment, defense and security, among others, and sports activity in transverse. “Being in Cannes, we focused on cinema and we used active pedagogy by making them direct their own short film. The goal is to give them tools for the start of their life as citizens through our modules ”, explains Jérémy Crunchant.

The young people did krav maga, met the director of the Banque de France in Nice, discussed secularism, cyberstalking and addictions.

In addition, they obtained their Defense and Citizenship Day, the first aid certificate, can take advantage of free road traffic courses and have developed recognized computer skills, "it's great because it can be mentioned. on the CV, it is recognized and valued ”, exclaims Camille, 16, one of the volunteers.

For her, participating in this trip was a real asset.

“It shows discipline, you need rules and a framework.

It will be a good thing when it will be compulsory for all 16-year-olds [by 2024 according to the government] ”.

Future sailors

The high school student, who was "sure she wanted to become a school teacher", is now "in full doubt".

"Why not enlist in the navy," she wonders.

In the meantime, she will join the civil protection of the Alpes-Maritimes as a volunteer.

In front of her, Maxime, who comes from the department next door, has also become her best friend.

“I didn't think I would be able to create links, I thought I would do the activities and that's it,” said the 16-year-old Varois.

He loved learning about the different army corps and meeting the professionals.

“Before I didn't really know what I wanted to do, now I'm thinking of joining the navy”.

His father is also a sailor.

He is convinced: “The SNU really has to be done, you have to live it and be an actor.

And it's great to be the pioneer of this program [in 2019, the edition was a foreshadowing and in 2020, the event was canceled because of the Covid-19].

The diploma we received is collector's item!

".

The two supervisors smile.

“We have the impression of having served for something”.

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  • Youth

  • Universal National Service

  • Cannes

  • Society

  • Nice