By Chantal Tathanhminh | Project Leader
To make the leap in life, to rub it and to let oneself be stung, when life has already been previously stressful, unfair, asks some young people a support, a "shock absorber", that the project "Aïcha and Léonard proposes to be for three years. A "shock absorber", but also a "chance". That of offering young people (under 30) from families with very modest incomes, access to higher education, sometimes in distant schools or high registration fees.
The genesis of the project
Carried by Secours Catholique in Burgundy, this project was born from a legacy made by Mrs. Léonard, received in 2003. Mrs. Léonard had been taking care of young people in difficulty during all her life, so the team of Secours Catholique in Burgundy wished that her legacy could benefit projects for young people. The delegation launched a think tank to find an exceptional use for this ultimate gift.
One of this group’s volunteer, also involved in school support in Chalon-sur-Saône, was accompanying a young girl in 12th grade who wanted to attend a Bachelor of Science in biology. The family resources of this girl, despite the scholarship, did not allow her to consider such studies. Without additional financial assistance, she had to make up her mind to give up her studies and find a job ... The project "Aïcha and Léonard" was born. This girl was the first student to receive support as part of the "Aïcha et Léonard" project. During the 2004-2005 school year, the project began to support young people, in addition to scholarships and other existing help, with a view to their professional integration.
The pedagogy of the project
The young people who benefit from the "Aïcha and Léonard" scholarships are young people identified by our volunteers and whose families are already known and accompanied by Secours Catholique.
The study projects (from technical diplomas two years after 8th grade to Master's degree and more) submitted for application must be feasible, that is to say to have a minimum of chances of success, estimated in a realistic way. Financial assistance is added to all those provided by state agencies such as various scholarships or housing assistance. Our scholarship is directly allocated to the student because this project aims at empowering young people.
Supported for three years (with a possibility of repeating a year), for an average amount of € 2,000, young people are accompanied and do not have to sacrifice free time or their revision time by engaging early in "small jobs" to offset their daily expenses.
For those who wish to continue their studies beyond the 3 years covered by the scholarship, considering that their future career should allow them a return on investment, we have set up a loan system of honor, without interest, repayable within the 5 years of first employment. To date, 10 loans have been granted, 5 have already been repaid (14,500 € loans have been allocated, 8,000 already reimbursed).
To accompany the young beneficiary, we ask him to choose a volunteer godfather/mother, with whom he must make a point, at least twice a year. The young student can rely on him/her to be supported in difficult times, advised on the management of his budget or reassured in this "jump" in university life.
Godfather with a beneficiary
All study projects are presented to a commission (3-4 members) which rules on the chances of realization and on the help that will be given to the young person. The head of the commission investigates the files and once they are complete presents them. He does not have a casting vote. All decisions are taken unanimously.
Accepted projects are subject of an agreement between the young person and Secours Catholique in Burgundy, which specifies the project of study supported, the amount of the aid granted and the duration of this one. The godfather/mother is co-signatory of the agreement.
In conducting this project, we have demonstrated our contribution: far from being only a "scholarship deliverer", we have been able to offer support to each of the young people supported for a repetition rate of only 13% , far from the failure rate in the first year of higher education which is 50% at the national level.
Since its launch in 2005, 97 young people, at various levels, have been moving towards independent living.
Students during courses
Currently, we support 16 young people who have integrated this program.
"Recently, a student obtained his engineering degree and a job in the company where he attended his internship, a girl got a diploma of medical secretary .... for the anecdote, a boy having obtained his baccalaureate returned to prep engineer with our help and after selling his car to balance his budget ... We allow motivated young people who have a project to claim at the end of their studies that they will live on a job they have chosen. "Mr. Lelong, head of the Aïcha and Léonard commission.
The amount of expenditure related to this action is currently € 34,747 for the year 2018.
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