The ZEP offers media expression and creation workshops led by professional journalists and held in cycles of either five sessions (article production) or ten sessions (video and podcast production) for each group of young people. Each cycle follows a precise methodology with debate and argumentation exercises on social issues and a range of writing-based games to strengthen written and oral expression, stimulate creativity, gain confidence in public speaking and enhance self-esteem by developing a persuasive narrative.
The Societe Generale The Future is You Foundation is supporting the roll-out of 150 workshop cycles over three years and the reinforcement of their impact on young people. To this end, the charity has identified three priority issues:
- Developing initiatives with a strong social impact for young people, such as media residencies that enable a group of young people (between 15 and 20) to produce a collective story over a limited period of time. Two are planned for 2024-2025, including one with a cité éducative (programme aimed at professional insertion for young people in underprivileged areas) in Pau.
- Getting involved in close collaboration with the educational players with whom the association co-develops initiatives, and with new organisations (schools, Ecoles de la 2e Chance (E2Cs), organisations under the children's social welfare agency (Aide Sociale à l’Enfance – ASE), prison integration services, etc.) in eight regions and overseas France.
- Sustaining a virtuous economic model. Public support (government and ministries) and private foundations will initially enable workshops to be offered free of charge to new providers. The aim is then to request a financial contribution from these providers, while relying on more local funding sources.
