On September 6, the Break Poverty Institute organized the Journée nationale des Référents DAT as part of the deployment of the Dotation d’Action Territoriale (DAT) on the premises of our partner, the Accenture Foundation.

On this occasion, nearly 20 territories with DATs were able to share their experiences of their commitment to the approach, as well as look back at the markers of poverty, which are ever more present in France.

What does it mean to be young and poor in France ?

The day was punctuated by various highlights, workshops and speeches, including one by Christophe Sanchez, Director of Programs at Break Poverty. He reminded us that the economic situation of young people remains fragile, and that they are the hardest hit by shocks such as the Covid crisis. Indeed, the unemployment rate among young people is rising faster than that of the general population: +2.8% versus +0.6%.

Action aimed at young people has an even greater impact on poverty prevention, since young people with no qualifications are those most in difficulty. For example, 1 in 2 young people with no qualifications is more likely to be unemployed three years after leaving school, and their national unemployment rate will reach 40% in 2019*, compared with 8.5% for 25-49 year-olds. Added to this is a high level of job insecurity: 53% of jobs held are temporary, fixed-term or apprenticeship.

Against this backdrop, projects supported by the Dotation d’Action Territoriale in the fields of early childhood, school dropout prevention and professional integration are all the more necessary to prevent youth poverty.

*Source: Observatoire des Inégalités

Inspiring talks and discussions

The event included a discussion with Angélina Lamy, Managing Director of the Accenture Foundation, a partner and major supporter of DAT. For her, the DAT creates a network of local companies, whose common denominator is local and social impact. The DAT is based on two pillars: local roots and the mobilization of companies alongside local authorities and associations.

According to Angelina, one of the advantages of the DAT scheme is that “there’s no minimum ticket, and that takes the pressure off […]” for companies.

For Colombe Pigearas, co-director of Marseille Solutions, what “seems particularly interesting about the DAT model is the territorial alliance it fosters between private, public and associative players […]”.

Enriching situations

The referents were given the opportunity to work together on engaging thematic workshops, which gave them a new impetus in their approach to the DAT, particularly with regard to the needs of the referent community or the most relevant communication actions to implement, depending on the person involved.

For Céline Audibert, Director of Urban Policy and Integration at the Melun Val de Seine agglomeration, it’s up to “the territories supporting these DATs to continue to maintain a link with the other DAT referents at national level”, and so keep the momentum going. In the Melun Val de Seine area, the DAT has really helped to develop cross-functionality between departments within their organization. They would now like to continue this dynamic and, above all, demonstrate the impact of the economic world on local projects.

All these exchanges will also have provided an opportunity to reflect on the future, and the responsibility that falls to each and every one of us, as Tiphaine Bonnet from the Maison de l’Apprendre put it :

The 1st National DAT Referents’ Day was an opportunity for many regions to meet, share experiences and enrich the community of DAT referents working for young people in their region.

If you share DAT’s ambition and would like to join this network of territories committed to youth, please contact us.

To find out more, visit the Dotation d’Action Territoriale website.