As part of the European Youth Green Compass project, funded by the Erasmus+ programme, SOLUTION launched a community initiative led in partnership with young people from the Feu Vert association and from the MJC des Hauts de Belleville.
The principle was simple: organise a swap meet where money isn’t involved – people come along to swap their bits and bobs!
The day began with a baking workshop, organized by Feu Vert at the MJC des Hauts de Belleville, to prepare pastries for the refreshment stand. From 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., participants set up and managed two exchange areas on Rue du Borrégo at SOLUTION’s and Feu Vert’s. Young people, supported by staff from the organizations, handled all the logistics, from sorting donations to welcoming residents. Faced with a larger volume of goods than expected, the surplus was distributed free of charge to families and passersby.
The large turnout of residents made it possible to put many clothes, books, and decorative items back into circulation. At the end, in line with the “zero waste” goal, the remaining inventory was sorted: blankets and warm clothing were set aside for future outreach efforts, while other items were stored for a future event. For the young people, this initiative served as a practical exercise in event management, crowd control, and public communication. And for the community, it was a wonderful moment to connect, share and promote eco-responsible behaviours!
