For ten years, the Vénéjan Exchange Network has brought the spirit of solidarity to different municipalities

Les bénévoles de Reve avec leur président (deuxième en partant de la gauche) motivés pour s'entraider. D.R.

The Reve association, based in Vénéjan, is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. It has set up a local exchange system which benefits the inhabitants of different communes of the Rhone Gard.

When he launched the idea with his wife Marylène of creating a SEL (local exchange system) in Vénéjan in 2014, Patrice Auffret had it ;wanting to reconnect with the community spirit that there used to be in the villages, we helped each other out. We must fight against everyone at home" he remains convinced. 

After a first meeting with residents of the small Gard village, the Reve association (Vénéjan exchange network) was launched. "The principle is the exchange of services, skills, goods between members of the association. Our currency that measures given time is the star. Sixty stars is an hour. There's no money" explains the founding president who keeps the counters. "People are sending me messages to update them." A work that allows him to know where the dynamism of the association is. "The more exchanges there are, the more stars there are. We are at 918 exchanges. Soon we will reach 100,000 minutes!" he rejoices.

Some people from Bagnolais and Spiripontans have joined the Reve

Over the years, Le Reve has spread to other communities. 153 people have passed through Le Reve. At the moment, we have 93 members. Everyone can participate, we have all ages, people from Bagnols, Pont-Saint-Esprit…”. Via the social network Whatsapp, members of the network exchange, ask their community if one of them can help them.

"It could be picking up someone at Bagnols station, troubleshooting a computer, lending a car for four days, feeding your pet while you're away, repairing your flushing a toilet, unblocking a siphon, watering plants, helping with a move, lending equipment…". Where else can you help a local resident "clear his garden of stones after the passage of wild boars" testifies the Vénéjanais. "These are all the services that we used to provide between neighbors. It recreates solidarity. Like this spontaneous action of plant donations, after a fire which ravaged a garden. "Since then, we have organized plant swaps once a year". 

"Of course, these are only legal services and our principle is not to compete with professionals.  To join the association, you must sign a charter. 

Obviously, this exchange of services creates links, and the members of the association like to meet once a month to discuss and make proposals, sometimes for collective events. ;tai chi or English lessons. Christmas and summer meals are also other special moments for these Gardois who appreciate this friendly spirit.

Annual membership to Reve: 10 euros, 15 euros per family. Next meeting, open to all, Friday January 19 at 6 p.m. room   Elie-Bergier, Vénéjan. Tel 06 16 99 11 26. Website: www.revenejan.org

A free Repair café offered once a month and open to all

The president of Reve launchedé a Repair café, which is held on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the Fost foyer (next to the station) in Véné Jan.  "This participatory repair workshop is open to everyone. everyone, not just V&néjanis, and it's free" he emphasizes. "We are in a village, but in a town çyou can walk à on the scale of a neighborhood.

Repair of equipment, small household appliances, computer equipment, sewing… are offered by volunteers "but we want çit to remain participatory". When it is necessary to order, "people must come back, we do not keep the objects" specifies the one who is also a reference for IT. "I'm passionate about it".

Là again, the spirit of solidarity is not far away. "We organizedé a Repair café for the Telethon, with donations. 

The next Repair café will take place on Saturday January 20,   from 10 a.m. à 1 p.m. at the Fost à Vénéjan. Info on the Facebook page or from Patrice Auffret tel. 06 16 99 11 26.

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