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8
ISSUES CONCERNING FOOD
“SOCIAL
GROCERY
STORES HELP
STUDENTS
TO SUCCEED.”
In 2011, the
FAGE
(1)
,
whose mission is to
improve students’ living
conditions, launched
the “
AGORAé”
programme in response
to this growing
impoverishment. The
AGORAé
are places
where students can
meet and socialise, with
a common area open to
all and a social grocery
store for those who
meet certain socio-
economic criteria. The
centres are run and
managed by students,
for students.
What is the principle
behind them?
Our 10
AGORAé
are
spread throughout
France and offer fruit
and vegetables, fresh
products, frozen foods,
toiletries, cleaning
products and stationery
at 20% of their usual
price. Our support is
available for a five-
month period, which can
be renewed. Students
can shop completely
independently. They
do not receive aid,
but, rather, become
“consum’actors”. They
can also attend cooking
courses, learn about
prevention, get help to
go on holiday and, soon,
get legal advice.
Who are the
beneficiaries?
They are students who
have between €1.20
and €7.40 per day
left over to live on
(2)
.
Students, with or
without a grant,
from their first year
to master’s degree,
young men and
women, usually living
in a hall of residence.
Over 1,500 students
have already been
assisted and more
than €1 million worth
of food donations have
been distributed since
2011. We already have
plans to open five new
AGORAé
. And we hope
they will share our best
practices.
How did the
AGORAé
initiative start?
According to the French
National Observatory of
Student Life, more than
one French student in
two runs into financial
problems; a quarter
suffer from loneliness
and isolation and over
one third skip at least
one meal a week
because they lack the
time, cooking skills or
money.
“Even if thefirst step
is sometimeshard,
students appreciate
these livingareas and
comebackof their
ownaccord.”
(1) Federation of General Student Associations, an umbrella organisation for over 2,000 associations in France, with nearly 300,000 students.
(2) This is the money a person has left after paying their fixed bills (rent, transport, electricity, etc.).
FAGE
The Carrefour
Foundation has been
a partner since 2011,
providing funding
worth €50,000 in 2014
to support the
development of
AGORAé
social grocery
stores in Strasbourg,
Saint-Étienne and Caen.
3 questions
for Victor Bygodt
Vice-President of
FAGE
FRANCE