Hélène VAUDON

CIDIL: 30 years of commitment to serving rural areas in the Charente region

In 1994, in an area of Charente that still lacked local services, a few local elected members and committed citizens decided to create an organisation to support employment and social cohesion: the Carrefour pour l’Insertion et le Développement des Initiatives Locales (CIDIL). Thirty years later, the association continues its work with the same conviction: to offer a better future to those who are marginalised.

Thirty years later, the association continues its work with the same conviction: to offer a better future to those who are marginalised.

‘We are in a rural area, about 30 kilometres from Angoulême. Too far away to benefit from services such as CAF, CPAM or France Travail, but close enough not to be considered isolated. Consequently, we had to come up with our own solutions,’ recalls Hélène Vaudon, director of the association.

Offering more and more opportunities

In its early days, the association simply offered support services to job seekers.

It was when the Seuil Charente Périgord community of municipalities (now La Rochefoucauld – Porte du Périgord) acquired an old farm that the idea of creating a social integration project took root. This place then became a space for learning and knowledge transfer, where job seekers could train in construction trades, but also discover organic market gardening.

‘Market gardening is close to my heart because it symbolises a return to the land, meaningful, practical work, and the opportunity for everyone to see the fruits of their labour. It is also a very accessible activity for people in very precarious situations,’ emphasises Hélène Vaudon.

Creating a virtuous circle

Far from limiting itself to training in the building and market gardening sectors, CIDIL has gradually developed an ecosystem of solidarity-based and sustainable activities, creating a virtuous economic dynamic in the region.

The integration projects have diversified to include maintenance of green spaces, production and sale of organic vegetables, and production of vegetable jams. The harvests not only supply individuals, but also the Banque Alimentaire, local authorities and even a local secondary school, contributing in this way to reinforce the short supply chains and local roots. More recently, the association opened a farmers’ market promoting local products and providing training opportunities for sales professions.

All these projects reflect the same ambition: to combine integration with usefulness, proximity and solidarity.

A new beginning in Montbron

After years of development, challenges and successes, CIDIL is now preparing to take another major step forward: moving from Souffrignac to Montbron.

The new premises, located in close proximity to the market garden, will bring all the teams together in one place, enabling better coordination of activities and offering more suitable working conditions.

This project promises both continuity and renewal for the association. Despite the difficulties it has faced, CIDIL is committed to continuing to reinvent itself to meet the needs of its region and its inhabitants.

France Active, an indispensable support

Like many social and solidarity economy organisations, CIDIL has experienced recurring cash flow difficulties as a direct result of its fragile and demanding economic model.

During these difficult times, the association was able to count on the invaluable support of France Active, which offered to include them in the Local Support Programme (DLA).

This scheme enabled the association to conduct an in-depth assessment of its situation, clarify its strategy and put in place a realistic action plan to overcome the crisis.

‘Without this support, we would not have been able to move forward,’ says Hélène Vaudon.

For nearly thirty years, France Active has remained an essential partner of CIDIL, supporting it in its transitions and contributing to the sustainability of its integration and local development actions in the Charente region.