Union Rempart has a dual objective: it seeks to promote career development in the heritage professions whilst working in partnership with both local and regional not-for-profit associations that protect and conserve historical sites. Union Rempart offers information sessions to young people aged 17 to 25 who are looking for careers advice or orientation, as well as those experiencing educational difficulties. These sessions attract several hundred participants each year, partly thanks to partnerships with social and professional support structures.
Young people can volunteer to work on restoration sites for two to three weeks, acquiring professional and manual skills that they can immediately put to use in practical situations. Qualified craftspeople impart traditional gestures and construction and renovation techniques.
By working on these sites, volunteers from a broad range of backgrounds can participate in a collective project that brings together socio-cultural experiences and the acquisition of interpersonal and technical skills that will serve them well in future employment or training. The weeks spent on site offer young people the chance to interact with their peers, whilst helping them recognise their skills and aptitudes and boosting their self-confidence.
