Louise Bournonville
GBBA Year 1
My Social Engagement Project
The questions
Here you would find the main questions I asked during my interview related to different topics to learn as much as possible about the association.
- How has the association been created?
- What is the purpose of the association?
- What is the legal structure?
- How are the projects developed?
- Where does the money come from ?
- How is the communication organized? How is it known and viewed by local people?
- Who joined the association? In which purpose?
- What changes can be observed since its creation?
- Over which topics is it working on?
- Age of volunteers? Background?
- Is there other projects like this association? Where? How do they evolve and can it help the association?
- What can you find personally in the association that you couldn’t have in another environment?
Interview Review
To understand how the association is working let's take a look at its organization!
An association organized into three colleges
At its creation in 2004 this association decided to work in an unusual way. In fact, this association is organized into 3 colleges: firstly the college of elected officials, secondly the college of farmers and finally the college representing civil society made up of residents, associations and local businesses. It is not common to see an association divided and working like this but it permits to reunite all people sharing a common space and wanting to preserve it in the best possible way.
In a first time the three colleges are reunited independently to discuss their needs and elect their 9 representatives. After that the representatives meet during the heritage council where the presidents of each council as well as the managers of the association, such as Marie, are invited to make all the future decisions.
The role of manager
To be efficiently active and cary out the various projects of the association it is necessary to have employees. Therefore, there are two employees: one in charge of the administrative and accounting part and the other one in charge of projects as a project manager. With these two employees they can achieve big projects and be active wherever they are needed.
As I had the chance to interview Marie Martinez and discover the organization of the work within the association through her and her objectives. I will explain what are her doings in her versatile work of project manager. Before, she had different experiences of working in an association but she wanted to take part in all the steps to protect the farmers and nature she is passionate and love what she does. Firstly, she is in charge of all the relations with the different farmers and makers. She listens to their needs to answer them during her projects. She is also in charge of the communication of the association with the newsletter every month or on social media like facebook and instagram where she shows the projects of the association, the news about the local makers or farmers ( like Martin Caré on the photo opposite ) and some beautiful places to discover in the plain of Versailles.
But to achieve all of that she tries to found the right volunteers with the perfect skills to help her. Some of them help in the field because they know the plain by heart and are passionate about its environment. Some others have more accountable skills to help put together funding files or even some help in the shop of the plain to sell the local baskets or during events to discover the plain. Most of them are retired because they are the ones who have lived here for a long time but who also have the most time to help.
The projects
They are based on a landscape charter, in particular to preserve the environment from major real estate developers. It also helps young farmers to settle down by providing them all the resources obtained during projects carried out on the diagnosis of agricultural land. Other projects concern the heritage, the current one is on the census of all the wash houses and their restoration. Finally, currently the main project is to establish a map and a guide where it would grouped all the historical places to discover but also the hiking trails or in horseback and bicycle. As well as all places where local producers sells their production to favor and raise awareness about local consumption.
For the future...
The plain of Versailles is part of a bigger project with the association of the Saclay plateau called Terre&Cité. Together they want to preserve the agricultural lands, biodiversity and landscapes of the region Ile-de-France threatened by urbanization. To do this, they need the fundings given by the next LEADER project of the European EAFRD. This would help achieve all the projects because currently the lack of money prevents the completion of larger projects. For example the one to protect the land bought for the creation of the PSG training center or to defend farmers from expropriation.
They are still full of things to do to protect this beautiful landscape but in the meantime enjoy this sunset over the vines without forgetting the good glass of local wine!