France/Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou. 20,000 € to support young organizations

The "Entreprendre pour la solidarité" Endowment Fund is calling for proposals from organizations with projects related to employment, housing, and community life.

Solidar’toit combats energy poverty; L’Emoi de l’année collects Christmas gifts; Mobil’idées fosters social connections in rural areas; Alternativ’49 provides preventive support to caregivers: In 2024, these small organizations, which had applied for the call for projects from the Entreprendre pour la solidarité (EPLS) endowment fund, based in Saint-Barthélemy-d’Anjou, received an award.

In 2025, the jury recognized Les Filles récup’, which recycles items; Adèle, which establishes safe spaces for victims of sexual violence; Cap’créativité, which offers shared DIY workshops, and the Réseau main forte, which provides administrative and legal support for hiring foreign workers.

“Giving a helping hand to initiatives”

All of them met the criteria outlined by Julie Colineau, head of EPLS Initiatives: being less than five years old, carrying out projects targeting vulnerable people in the areas of housing, employment, and community life, and being based in Maine-et-Loire.

In 2026, the third call for projects by EPLS—which brings together about fifteen Angers-based associations in the social and solidarity economy—has a total budget of €20,000. These funds will be distributed, according to their needs, among the four or five selected associations.

“Our goal is to give a boost to these initiatives,” explains Benoit Akkaoui, president of EPLS. “We’re looking for project leaders who are somewhat outside the usual networks—people who sometimes lack the confidence or feel they aren’t credible enough.” The president, who is also director of the Biscottes recycling center, points out that “the 15 organizations we are today were once small. The recycling center alone could not have become what it is today.”

“The support isn’t just financial,” emphasizes Nadine Dupont-Thiriez, an EPLS volunteer. “We provide methodological support, connect them with other associations in the network, and help develop partnerships. The winning associations receive ongoing support. Others can reapply.

The fund’s money is supplemented by partners, companies, or organizations that commit to pooling their operating surpluses, explains the president. Solidarity among organizations is necessary because money needs to circulate. We can’t expect everything from the welfare state. Which, incidentally, is becoming less and less generous. Hence this call: We are looking for sponsors.

The application deadline is October 15, and the awards will be presented on December 15. The application form can be downloaded from www.epls-initiative.org

We’re looking for project leaders who are somewhat outside the usual networks—people who sometimes lack the confidence or feel they aren’t credible enough.

Benoit Akkaoui, President of Entreprendre pour la solidarité

Source: www.ouest-france.fr/