RénovMobile: an inclusive project to promote social reintegration
To promote social reintegration for people facing exclusion from employment and refurbish saleable items at the same time: this is the ambitious aim of the La Rênoverie association’s RénovMobile project, with support from the Fondation VINCI pour la Cité.
The La Rênoverie association was founded in 2019 in Ambérieu en Bugey in the Ain department of France by Rémi Mourier, a concerned individual interested in social inclusion and solidarity projects. The association’s mission is to promote social reintegration for people facing exclusion from employment by offering them work refurbishing items for resale in its charity shop.
Catherine Vanel, a project manager at Lee Sormea, is Rémi’s neighbour and a volunteer with the association. She had the idea of approaching the Fondation VINCI pour la Cité, which supports associations working in social and professional inclusion for vulnerable people. Catherine decided to become the La Rênoverie association’s sponsor with the foundation and submitted a finance request for the RénovMobile project that was approved by the foundation’s selection committee in October 2023.
The RénovMobile project
The aim of the RénovMobile project was to buy a van and travel to villages around the Ain department to raise awareness of reuse/upcycling and introduce the association’s work.
“It’s fantastic that the foundation was able to support the association, because it has allowed us to make this cherished project a reality,” says Catherine. “A lot of people work with La Rênoverie, from supervisors to social workers to volunteers, and it’s wonderful to be able to continue the adventure with the mobile shop. The association is important for helping vulnerable people back into employment in a supportive environment. Its volunteers also have time to reflect and move forward in their professional and personal lives.”
The Role of Foundation sponsor
As a sponsor for the foundation, Catherine Vanel’s role is to raise awareness of the La Rênoverie association and the Fondation VINCI pour la Cité, share feedback with her network, and arrange company visits for the association’s employees. She also tries to identify VINCI Group business units established or operating in the Ain that would be willing to welcome La Rênoverie employees and introduce them to careers with VINCI.