France/ In Locminé, a partnership has been established between actors and a recycling center to combine solidarity and culture

The “Le Grenier” recycling center of the Centre Morbihan Community (CMC) and the theater group “Les comédiens du Grenier” have formed a partnership in Locminé (Morbihan) to combine the circular economy, professional integration, and access to culture.

In Locminé (Morbihan), the recycling center Le Grenier and the theater troupe, Les Comédiens du Grenier, share a name.

Now there’s also a partnership to combine the circular economy, job placement, and access to culture.

“I was already familiar with the recycling center; I’ve been there several times both personally and to look for items for the association,” says Ingrid Bruguier, president of Les Comédiens du Grenier.

Combining Secondhand Goods and the Stage

From her conversations with Christophe Loots, a job placement counselor at the recycling center, the idea for a partnership was born: combining secondhand goods with the stage. While the recycling center works daily to support employees in the reintegration program (currently ten) and promote reuse, the theater association creates artistic productions and presents live performances.

The recycling center will provide set pieces, furniture, tableware, and salvaged items to enhance the staging of this season’s performances. In return, Les Comédiens du Grenier will help raise awareness of the recycling center’s work through its digital platforms and during its performances.

Through this partnership, the two organizations are engaging in a concrete collaboration. The theater company will offer free tickets to performances for employees in job-training programs and for workers at the recycling center’s sites.

In addition, a workshop on verbal and physical expression will be organized at least once a year for employees, with the aim of boosting self-confidence, helping them speak more comfortably in public, and contributing to their personal growth.

A partnership that will benefit everyone

This alliance illustrates the ability of local stakeholders to build bridges between social action, environmentalism, and culture. During the workshop, which will take place at the Maison des associations, participants will engage in self-reflection; they’ll be shown how to manage their emotions and how to use their bodies and voices, and they’ll do exercises to learn how to introduce themselves,” explains Alena Charron, director of Les Comédiens du Grenier. We tailor our teaching approach to each participant, because the goal is for everyone to feel comfortable and at ease.

Chantal Bihoès, vice president of CMC and head of comprehensive integration, says: “These are very useful skills for their career plans, even if only for a job interview, when speaking up can be difficult for some. We’re establishing a generous partnership.”

Source: www.ouest-france.fr/