The MFR (Rural Family Training Center) of Gionges had a unique experience: for the first time, its students participated in an Erasmus+ mobility program in French Polynesia, alongside young people from the MFRs of Rurutu and Huahine. This project, part of the KA154 program, had a dual objective: to raise awareness among young people about environmental issues and to give them a voice in European civic discourse.
Welcomed by the Faora Lab and the MFREO of Vairao , the young people from Champagne discovered eco-responsible and sustainable agricultural practices: permaculture, agroforestry, agroecology… Field visits, such as that of the faapu of Uta , allowed them to understand how to reconcile local traditions and agricultural innovation.
But the experience wasn't limited to the fields: the students also experienced a true cultural immersion. Between discovering a pearl farm, a morning at the Nuutere marae, a shared Polynesian meal, and numerous workshops (weaving, drumming, singing, traditional games, local cuisine), they immersed themselves in the richness of Polynesian heritage. Highlights of this adventure: the preparation of a ma'a Tahiti (traditional oven) and an impressive firewalk that will remain etched in their memories.
This exchange was part of a series of exchanges between the Champagne region and French Polynesia. After hosting a Polynesian delegation in France, the young people from Gionges experienced a similar immersion program. Between these two parts of the adventure, they also participated in the European Youth Festival at the European Parliament , alongside other delegations from Rural Family Homes (MFRs), confirming the European dimension of their commitment.
During their stays, the young people worked on their public speaking skills and presented their thoughts on the environment and rural youth to the administrators of their MFR and their regional federation. These moments of exchange allowed them to showcase their experience and demonstrate that their voice matters in the future of the regions.
This adventure is just one step: it marks the entry of these territories – in France as well as in Polynesia – into a broader cycle of mobilizing the voices of rural youth . Other meetings will further fuel this momentum in the years to come, offering young people spaces to express themselves, share, and take action on the environmental, social, and cultural challenges of tomorrow.
