In 2023, the French agency of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) launched an Ecological Transition Programme for host and sending organisations. Florian Launay, coordinator of the initiative, presents it to us.
Florian Launay, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Could you please introduce yourself briefly and tell us what your responsibilities are at the agency?
After volunteering for seven months in a national park in Lithuania in 2010 and completing a master’s degree in ESS, I joined the Agency as a project manager for the European Voluntary Service, youth exchanges and youth worker mobility. I initially supported organisations in setting up their European projects and training programmes. Today, I am deputy head of the ESC division and support the team in implementing the ESC programme in France: project evaluation tools, support plans for project leaders and the implementation of thematic modules, etc.
The Ecological Transition Pathway is an initiative led by the French agency of the European Solidarity Corps: what is it all about?
This is a training programme for organisations that host and/or send volunteers. We organise it once a year for a maximum group of 30 participants. The main objective is to raise awareness of ecological transition among these organisations and to support them in implementing it.
The course is organised in three stages, in a hybrid format:
- The first session is organised online over one day to introduce the topic and raise awareness of carbon footprints. It also aims to raise awareness of possible actions to limit and reduce this footprint. Inspiring testimonials are also included in this first session, enabling participants to understand how the concept of sustainable development is translated into concrete terms in volunteer projects.
- A second session then takes place in person over 2.5 days: it is dedicated to the exchange of practices and the presentation of tools that can be used by organisations. Activities such as fresco painting (climate, ocean, etc.) are organised as part of this session.
- A third online session, lasting half a day, concludes the course: a 2-tonne workshop is organised, adapting the content to a volunteer project.
Why did you create this course? What need did it meet?
The CES pays close attention to the quality of the projects it funds, particularly by taking priorities into account. Support programmes focusing on participation and inclusion have also been set up. However, the organisations submitting projects did not really know how to address this priority. To remedy this, we decided to develop specific support, with the help of our team of trainers. This led to the creation of the Ecological Transition programme, which is structured around several modules and based on the needs of the field. It is still too early to assess the impact of the programme on the quality of projects, but this is something we are working on.
In addition to this programme, and in order to reach as many project leaders as possible, we have also developed a booklet on ecological transition to show how green priorities can be implemented in CES projects. It includes green actions, of course, but also discusses how these priorities can be translated into concrete terms in volunteers’ missions and even in their daily lives. For example, some tutors have created guides to help volunteers in their everyday lives: addresses of shops selling local products, recycling centres, second-hand shops, reminders about energy consumption (closing windows when the heating is on), waste sorting. At some host sites, young people are provided with a bicycle for everyday travel.
The format of the course seems to be well established already. However, are there any adjustments?
The territorial approach to the programme, for example, is a very good example of adaptation that adds value to the programme. Not only does it promote local dynamics and initiatives, but it also brings together local actors committed to environmental transition. This geographical proximity between participants and stakeholders thus ensures long-term networking: in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, for example, a working group on SDGs, initiated by the DRAJES, was relaunched following the programme and provided an opportunity for discussion to promote mutual support and explore the topic in greater depth.
Another important development was the introduction of case studies from organisations participating in the programme that were either experts in the CES programme or specialised in environmental transition. The combination of their expertise makes it possible to identify concrete actions and imagine how this work could be applied within one’s own organisation.
An important development in 2026 will be the opening of the programme to the Erasmus+ Youth and Sport programme, whereas until now it has been reserved exclusively for the ESC. I am very pleased about this.
In addition, we are looking into the possibility of adapting this programme at the transnational level by working with colleges from other European agencies.
In conclusion, can you tell us what you are most proud of in this project?
Several things make me proud of the journey:
- The programme is a very recent project, but interest among CES stakeholders is growing. This is evident in the level of participation, which is increasing year on year.
- Project leaders who are unable to participate in the programme are not forgotten. The booklet on ecological transition in CES projects provides them with guidance on green priorities and introduces them to best practices that they can apply to their own projects.
- The very philosophy of the programme and the CES is one of sharing.
Thank you, Florian, for your time and your inspiring experience!
