First 24 French 'rural café' villages are chosen
The first 24 villages have been selected to receive funding and help to open a café under a scheme to fund 1,000 of them in rural areas.
The scheme is run by the association Groupe SOS which has put up €200,000 in funding to help regenerate rural areas and fight social exclusion.
President of Groupe SOS, Jean-Marc Borello said: “The village café was once a central meeting place for inhabitants, but it has commonly disappeared.”
The association aims to open 1,000 cafes in communes of fewer than 3,500 residents, and have received 600 village applications so far.
Among them, 24 villages in nine different regions will be ready to open their cafe in spring. They are Beaulon (03), Thin-le-Moutier (08), Culhat (63), Bours (65), Guilligomarc’h (29), Lavaveix-les-Mines (23), La Dornac (24), Saint-Solve (19), Capendu (11), Odos (65), Meilhan sur Garonne (47), Sains (35), Congrier (53), Ligron (72), Tresson (72), La Bauche (73), Girancourt (88), Ugny (54) Saint-Emiland (71), Baccon (45), Zudausques (62), Lagruère (47), Cerelles (37), and Monthureux-sur-Saône (88).
As applications are still opened, others will continue to be revealed throughout 2020 and 2021. The association is also looking for people who can help and manage cafes. Volunteers do not need any particular experience. They can apply online at www.1000cafes.org/participez and will receive, financial, administrative support and receive training in Paris with the Groupe SOS, if selected.
‘1000 cafés’ project manager, Chloé Brillon said: “Local candidates are favoured because they already know the area but we also welcome outsiders.
“We're looking for dynamic, resourceful people who are able to create a friendly atmosphere. Some people who applied will return to their village, years after moving from it, to take care of the cafe.”
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Nearly one in three people live in a small commune and more than half (53%) have no shop, bakery, bar or cafe. There are 26,000 communes with no cafe, so no real centre of village life.
The goal of this project is to rebuild social links and a sense of community while also offering extra services such as post relais, newsagent or internet point access.
Mrs Brillon said: “We chose to create coffee places because it really represents a space of conviviality, it's a place where we can meet, discuss, exchange and find services.”
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The cafes will be financed by the association and regional subsidies, as well as the services offered. The organisation hopes to create a viable economic model for the new owners.
