France : A new battle for students: helping the banlieues

More and more students feel concerned with the expectations of the excluded people, often living in the outskirts of rich towns. Last year, 5 000 young volonteers working with AFEV, tried to give concrete help to children, youngsters at risk, and families, in the field of education and access to jobs. AFEV stands for « association de la fondation étudiante pour la ville ». Its aim is to restore citizenship in poor neighbourhoods, where connecting people with opportunities results very difficult. The motto is ?being useful? and sounds quite correct in the present socio-economic context. Founded 15 years ago, the association is now involved in the building of a larger network in Europe, with the support of associations from the Eastern countries, within the EVA project (European volunteers in action), to be launched in Lyon in next september. www.afev.org