CAMAIEU ISLANDS

description of organisation

CAMAIEU ISLANDS is a non-profit organization based in Saint-Martin (French Overseas Territory ). This collaborative project is built around the observation of the increasingly precarious situation of young people in Saint-Martin. Indeed, since the passage of Hurricane IRMA in 2017, youth unemployment has been estimated ats high as 50% of the active population. With a low school attendance rate (35%) and a low level of training, young natives have a significant loss of opportunity for professional and personal integration into the social and economic fabric. In addition, young natives who want to study must leave the island and the number of "returns to the country" is very low. While the share of the population with an immigrant background is over 32% and the share of its natives less than 31%, Saint-Martin is a crossroads of cultures where young people are sensitive to different cultures and like to be in contact with the world. However, since Hurricane IRMA, the situation has become increasingly tense, with increasing and frequent conflicts among communities. It has intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic, thus questioning the slogan of "Friendly island" which characterized Saint-Martin. In addition to this tension, young people and adults no longer recognize themselves in the image and perception of their territory. This situation also affects the southern part of our island, Sint-Maarten, with which we share an open land border. Unfortunately, initiatives that would make it possible to promote the territory and its young people are scarce. CAMAIEU ISLANDS aims at, through the development of activities within the framework of the Social and Solidarity Economy, demonstrating that it is possible to set up activities in the SSE that are sustainable, allowing our disadvantaged youth to grasp opportunities and discover other countries as well as cultures within Europe and the world, and last but not least, enable our young people throughout exchanges, to ascertain their Saint-Martin, Caribbean, French and European identity. Our mission is to promote the social and professional inclusion of young audiences (young people under 30, women, migrants ...), to stimulate social entrepreneurship and job creation on our island (Saint- Martin, Sint-Maarten) by our young people. We are working in partnership with the association ARRIMAGE GOOD'ILES in order to benefit from its experience in the implementation of our actions in the Saint-Martin.