FONJEP

FONJEP — the Fonds de Coopération de la Jeunesse et de l'Éducation Populaire — is a French organization created in 1964 as an association under the French law of 1901. It operates as a pooled interministerial fund whose purpose is to contribute to the remuneration of youth workers and popular-education (éducation populaire) facilitators employed by non-profit associations. In practice, FONJEP acts as a co-financing mechanism: associations active in youth work, popular education, and related fields can receive support toward the salary costs of qualified staff, with the fund drawing on contributions from several government ministries. Beyond its core subsidy function, FONJEP is also a membership association and a publisher of reference material on the history and practice of popular education. Its official website documents annual general assemblies, publications, and partnerships. The organization has been chaired by figures such as Édith Arnoult-Brill (1993–1998) and, more recently, Patrick Chenu, whose final general assembly as president was reported on the FONJEP site. FONJEP works closely with the Pajep (Pôle de conservation des archives des associations de jeunesse et d'éducation populaire), co-organizing study days and publishing historical works. FONJEP's editorial activity includes a collection published with La Documentation française. Notable titles include Éducation à l'environnement : une histoire et un dictionnaire by Dominique Bachelart and Laurent Besse (October 2025), and the online volume Animation nature et environnement 1970-1990 (Éditions des Archives nationales, December 2025). These publications reflect FONJEP's role as a memory institution for the associative and popular-education sector. The organization also administers the "Jeunesses et solidarité internationale" (JSI) grant scheme, publishing deposit calendars for applicants. Its events, such as the Projep cycle and Pajep study days, bring together academics, activists, and public officials to discuss themes from environmental education to disability inclusion in youth movements. FONJEP is headquartered in Paris and operates across France. It is a non-profit association rather than a commercial company, but it functions as a recognized institutional brand within the French public and associative ecosystem.

FONJEP was created in 1964 as an association under the French law of 1901. Its full name, Fonds de Coopération de la Jeunesse et de l'Éducation Populaire, indicates its dual nature: a fund pooling interministerial resources and a cooperative body for the youth and popular-education sector. From its inception, its core mission has been to contribute to the remuneration of facilitators and youth workers employed by non-profit associations, thereby professionalizing a field that had previously relied heavily on volunteers and precarious employment. The organization is governed by a president and a board that includes representatives of associations, ministries, and local authorities. Édith Arnoult-Brill served as president from 1993 to 1998. In recent years, Patrick Chenu has presided over FONJEP; his final general assembly as president took place on 15–16 June in Paris, where annual publications were made available to members and partners. Over the decades, FONJEP has expanded its activities beyond direct salary support. It now administers the "Jeunesses et solidarité internationale" (JSI) grant programme, publishing deposit calendars for applicants. It has also become a publisher and memory institution for the sector. In partnership with the Pajep (Pôle de conservation des archives des associations de jeunesse et d'éducation populaire), it co-organizes study days and supports historical research. Its collection with La Documentation française includes Éducation à l'environnement : une histoire et un dictionnaire (October 2025) by Dominique Bachelart and Laurent Besse, and the online volume Animation nature et environnement 1970-1990 (Éditions des Archives nationales, December 2025). FONJEP's public events, such as the Projep cycle and Pajep study days, address themes including environmental education, disability in youth movements, and the professionalization of social workers and facilitators in the 1960s–1970s. These activities reinforce its role as a crossroads for associative memory, academic research, and public policy. Headquartered in Paris, FONJEP operates throughout France. It remains an active association and a recognized brand within the French public and associative landscape.

• 2026

  General assembly held 15–16 June in Paris; last presided over by Patrick Chenu.

• 2025

  Publication of Éducation à l'environnement : une histoire et un dictionnaire (October) and Animation nature et environnement 1970-1990 (December).

• 2022

  Pajep organizes a colloquium on 30–31 March, later published as Animation nature et environnement 1970-1990.

• 1993

  Édith Arnoult-Brill begins her term as president (until 1998).

• 1964

  FONJEP created as an association under the French law of 1901.

A public-interest interministerial fund and associative memory institution supporting youth and popular-education professionals in France.

• FONJEP salary co-financing

  Interministerial fund contributing to the remuneration of youth and popular-education workers in non-profit associations.

• Jeunesses et solidarité internationale (JSI)

  Grant programme with published deposit calendars for applicants.

• Fonjep collection with La Documentation française

  Books on the history of popular education, including Éducation à l'environnement : une histoire et un dictionnaire.

1. 1FONJEP | Le Fonds de Coopération de la Jeunesse et de l’Education Populairefonjep.org
2. 2Education à l'environnement : une histoire et des perspectives | FONJEPfonjep.org
3. 3Un corpus de référence sur l'histoire de l'éducation à l'environnement | FONJEPfonjep.org
4. 4FONJEPwikidata.org
5. 5Fonds de coopération de la jeunesse et de l'éducation populairefr.wikipedia.org