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France

2. Voluntary Activities

2.1 General context

Last update: 28 November 2023
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  1. Historical developments
  2. Main concepts

 

 

Historical developments

 

The history of voluntary commitment is closely associated with that of NGOs recognised and authorised by the Law of 1 July 1901, which defines an NGO as "the agreement whereby two or more persons pool together, on a permanent basis, their knowledge or activity for a purpose other than sharing profits" (Article 1). This "republican" act enshrines the right of "freedom of association”, which played a fundamental role in the development of bénévolat (volunteering).

Political organisations (unions, workers' movement, etc.) and religious organisations (religious scouting) played a key role in the creation of the first French network of bénévoles, whose profiles have adapted with social changes.

In the 19th  century, the many wars and their wounded contributed to the creation of associations following the example of La Croix-Rouge française (The French Red Cross), founded in 1863, along with the first committees of bénévoles and first-aid organisations: relief societies for wounded soldiers (the Red Cross) that were initially largely composed of men but gradually opened to aristocratic women who, in the late 19th century, set up their own voluntary associations (Union des Femmes de France [Women's Union of France], 1882).

World War II and the post-war period also played a significant role in the evolution of bénévolat, in particular by democratising and increasing the presence of women and young people, who started to join non-profit organisations.

After 1945, the need to rebuild society and French territory generated the birth of large "public utility NGOs" ("reconnues d'utilités publiques" ) such as Secours Catholique, the Petits Frères des Pauvres (1946) and Emmaüs (1949), for which bénévolat was underpinned by the principle of charity and selflessness. The post-war period also saw construction of the "non-formal education movement"  for young people. These movements and organisations, which set themselves the goal of training "emancipated citizens", enabled young people to practise recreational, sports, cultural and educational activities as well as to commit in various ways (environmental volunteering, archaeological sites, etc.), participating in creation of a "bénévolat culture" more deeply rooted in French society and based on the values of solidarity, democracy and "active" citizenship.

In the 1950s, the ideals of non-formal education infused the public authorities responsible for youth and specifically the ministries responsible for culture, youth and sport. They began to support the non-formal education movement financially, as well as developing legal, administrative and legislative frameworks for non-profit organisations and promoting "bénévolat" among French youth, especially for the values associated with it.

Since the 1980s, the non-profit sector and bénévolat have grown in France. The sector has undergone many changes, including a gradual professionalisation involving recruitment of "professional bénévoles" and the desire to promote bénévoles' "skills" and thus consider bénévolat as a preliminary professionalising commitment. 

Thus, in 2022, 36% of French people will give time to an association. The associative sector employs 1.8 million people, i.e. almost one in ten employees in the private sector (9.2%) (Recherches & solidarités, La France associative en mouvement, October 2022).

Main concepts

 

Two types of civic commitments coexist in France: bénévolat and volunteering, which is a specifically French distinction. Although there are two commitment concepts, it is important to stress that they are both based on the same values of (voluntary) solidarity and commitment.

 

1) Bénévolat 

There is no legal or conventional definition of volunteering in French law. The definition commonly used is that given by the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (Conseil Économique, Social et Environnemental - CESE) in its opinion of 24 February 1993, which defines a volunteer as "any person who freely undertakes to carry out an unsalaried activity for others, outside his or her professional and family time" (this definition applies to all volunteers, young people, the elderly, etc.).

Volunteering is the situation in which a person gives his or her time and skills free of charge to a person or an organisation. It is therefore distinguished from a work situation (or salaried employment) essentially by the following criteria:

 

  • A volunteer acts in his or her organisation or association without being bound to the structure by any rules of duration or frequency other than those which may have been freely agreed upon in a mutual commitment agreement.
  • The volunteer is not subject to any subordination.
  • A volunteer is someone who participates in the organisation's activities without receiving any remuneration. They may, however, be reimbursed for expenses incurred by their activity.

 

There are two types of bénévolat: "formal", exerted in an organisation, and "informal", also known as "direct bénévolat" or "proximity bénévolat", which is expressed by one-shot, non-permanent help (collecting toys, helping neighbours, etc.).

The opinion of the High Council for Volunteering entitled "Guidance document of the HCVA on the common base of volunteering" of 13 March 2014 explains these concepts and provides a unanimously recognised framework for voluntary work.

Source: https://associations.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/hcva_socle_commun_benevolat2014.pdf

 

2) Volunteering

Volunteering is another form of commitment (more legally formalised by the public authorities than volunteering). Unlike volunteering, it can be compensated.

The various volunteer schemes are governed by their own rules. However, Law No. 2010-241 of 10 March 2010 on civic service brought together several schemes that constitute forms of civic service: the civic service commitment, voluntary associations, international volunteering in administration, international volunteering in companies, international solidarity volunteering, the civic service of firefighters and the volunteering programmes governed by European regulations and for which the Civic Service Agency is responsible for implementation. This form of commitment is often designed to enable the accomplishment of a mission of general interest and is generally carried out in non-profit organisations or with legal persons under public law.

Several forms of volunteering are specifically aimed at young people:

  • Civic service was introduced by the law "No. 2010-241 of 10 March 2010 on civic service. It allows young people aged between 16 and 25 (30 for people with disabilities) to carry out missions in associations, local authorities or approved public establishments for 6 to 12 months and receive a monthly allowance. The missions carried out within the framework of a civic service must contribute to social diversity and national cohesion, its citizenship and solidarity dimension being its particularity.
  • Volunteering within the European Solidarity Corps, which is aimed at young people residing in one of the member countries of the European Union, the countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), or neighbouring partner countries of the EU 
  • International solidarity volunteering (VSI), which has been developing since the 1960s, particularly in the context of the construction of new international relations marked by the development of "humanitarianism". This voluntary service allows young people over 18 years of age to carry out missions of general interest outside the European Economic Area (EEA) within non-governmental organisations and approved associations. The duration of the commitment is between 12 and 24 months.
  • International volunteering in companies (VIE), which allows young people aged 18-28 who are students, graduates or job seekers and who meet certain conditions to carry out a cultural, environmental or humanitarian mission for a period of 6 to 24 months in a French company abroad, in a foreign company linked to a French company by a partnership agreement, or in a foreign organisation involved in cooperation with France.
  • International volunteering in administration (VIA) allows young people aged 18 to 28 to carry out an assignment lasting between 6 and 24 months within the services of the French State abroad in order to participate in France's action in the world.