The 1st chapter of the integration program, the community engagement day invites first-year ICM students to participate in a civic activity. Objectives: discover the city, build connections, and express their commitment to solidarity!
On Thursday, September 3, Marinette met Clément, a 1st-year ICM student, as part of a workshop offered by the association “1 Lettre 1 Sourire” which fights against the isolation of elderly people.
The connection was immediate between this Saint-Étienne native and the young student, who had just arrived from Touraine. Through their exchanges, each was able to step outside their bubble and be enriched by the other’s experience… “A real breath of fresh air after two years of preparatory classes!” Clément confided.
Like this happy pair, all students in the new ICM cohort had the opportunity to experience a powerful human connection during the community engagement day. Social relationships, protection of natural environments, organic agriculture, circular economy, and active mobility were at the heart of concerns that day, with a single guiding principle: hands-on action.
16 partner organizations
The community engagement day constitutes the first step of the integration program. It takes place just before WANA (Weekend for Welcoming New Arrivals) and also involves second-year students, like Maxime, coordinator for a waste collection operation in the city, who was very happy “to support the first-years in their integration and discovery of their new environment!“
The 16 partner organizations greatly appreciated the students’ enthusiasm and involvement. Students could choose to engage in varied themes, for example clearing a forest, promoting women’s inclusion in science, or repairing bicycles.
Giving meaning to one’s studies
These civic actions enable future engineers to develop their awareness of local issues. They also sometimes spark new interest in civic engagement, as Andréa noted after her environmental awareness day: “the activities were interesting and made several of us want to continue working with the association.”
This openness to solidarity issues is essential for Mines Saint-Étienne, which aims to train responsible engineers who are attentive to societal challenges.
