Bac students give regional awards to MJCs

A quartet of high-achieving students have decided to hand cash awards they won for their impressive baccalaureate results to local associations - and have urged other winning students to do the same.

The four students, from Lyon, said they would give the €500 'merit award' they each received from regional funds for their 'very good' grades to the Rhône-Ain-Saône Network, which helps fund the MJCs of Ain, Rhône and Lyon.

In a letter written to the president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional council, the pupils explained their decision: "These structures ... act locally for better access to education and culture, for the expression of citizenship, with a view to strengthening the social bond and solidarity through social integration. "

According to their own calculations the students said this 'merit money' would cost the region about €3million. They said that if others followed their lead, it would send an important message to the regional council about the importance of such associations.