Since September 2024, the Véranda – Paul & Virginie hotel in Grand-Gaube a opened its Club Mer for twelve teenagers from three ANFEN schools (Adolescent Non Formal Education Network) in the north of the island: Étoile de mer, Paille en Queue and Fatima. The shores, lagoon and reefs offer an ideal training ground for these young locals, as they prepare to enter the professional world. Dominique Bellier
Young people with learning difficulties are discovering through the Sea Clubs, initiated since 2010 by the Reef Conservation association, that experience and knowledge of the sea can offer them a future… A group of twelve teenagers aged 14 to 17 have been assiduously attending Paul & Virginie’s Sea Club for the past six months.
At the dawn of their professional lives, these activities could enable them to find an interesting and sustainable job in shoreline and lagoon preservation. The aim of Clubs Mer is to promote social integration by offering employment opportunities and sustainable livelihoods in the marine environment.
These twelve youngsters from Club Mer – Paul & Virginie learn maritime safety rules, swimming and snorkeling. They study seagrass beds, coral reefs and rocky shores. They learn to analyze water quality and pollution levels, and Reef conservation scientists introduce them to marine biology…
By discovering the world of the sea with these specialists, thanks to the support of the Rogers Group, they benefit from a structured educational program, sanctioned by assessments and the award of certificates, as well as rewards for their progress. The Paille en Queue school in Grand Gaube also receives food from the hotel through the Foodwise project.
