With the 27th annual Semaine des maisons des jeunes du Québec (SMDJ) in full swing until October 20, Néomédia wanted to put the spotlight back on the Maison des jeunes des Cèdres. And why? Because, on a daily basis, the organization can count on two dynamic young people who, after having frequented the place during their adolescence, continue to be involved as adults.   

Sara-Maude Major and Vincent Lachance are childhood friends. Both natives of the small town, the duo completed their entire primary and secondary education at the same time and in the same schools.

Firmly rooted in their beloved community

Sara-Maude and Vincent are both 21 years old, and the Maison des Jeunes has played an important role in their lives, especially in their teenage years.

“Even today, we still see each other regularly, even if we don't go to the same places anymore.It was definitely the Maison des Jeunes that brought us together. When we were teenagers, we used to come here with three or four of our friends.As for me, my first visit here was an unexpected one, when one of my friends came for a walk and I was with her. We were 12 or 13. I liked the place right away, and it clicked, at the time, with a caregiver. There were always lots of interesting activities to do. After that, we came almost every day until the pandemic, when everything was put on hold,” says Sara-Maude, who works part-time as a community animator for the young people who attend the Maison des jeunes, in addition to her job as a special education technician at Navigateurs high school in Saint-Zotique. 

For his part, Vincent also admits that his very first visit to the site was by chance: “I was with two friends and we had spent the afternoon here. One of the workers there invited us to come back later to take part in some activities. Today, I've been on the board of directors of the Maison des jeunes for almost two years,” he says, sitting in the middle of the meeting place for young people aged 12 to 17, which is closed on Monday evenings.

When asked about the importance of La Maison in their respective lives, Sara-Maude admits that she chose her field of study because of her time there.

“It was because of what I experienced here that I decided to study special education to work with an adolescent clientele. I was drawn to the helping professions when I was a teenager here. If I hadn't been an MDJ alumnus, I'm not sure I'd have followed the same career path. My time here was 100% decisive in my career choice,” she admits. 

Why get involved after their teenage years?

Why did the pair want to stay involved with the Maison des jeunes even years after leaving as young adults? “For my part, I insisted on doing one of my internships there and then working full-time for a while, because it's an environment I love deeply. The bond we create with young people here is not the same as in a school setting, for example. Young people come to us on a voluntary basis, so they're often more inclined to talk about anything and everything, whereas in a school setting, they may be more embarrassed to do so. The helping relationship isn't the same,” Sara-Maude imagined.

For his part, Vincent is not involved in helping relationships in his day-to-day life, but he still wanted to stay involved with the organization. “We've spent so much time here. It's only natural to want to give back what we've received. It's at the Maison des Jeunes that we discovered different facets of ourselves and forged them. I wanted to help maintain and perpetuate it for the young people of our community.”

What does he do on the organization's Board of Directors? "We receive reports from general management on attendance in recent weeks and other important highlights.Then we talk to representatives of the MDJ youth committee, who also sit on the Board, to find out what activities are planned for the month.At least two or three MDJ youths sit on the Board with us, and they are the spokespeople for the young people who frequent the organization.”

What are today's young people like?

Are the prejudices we sometimes hear about today's youth well-founded, according to the pair? “Not at all. The young people who come to the MDJ are keen and willing to take part in activities. They're always ready to help, especially as they know that the funds raised during our fund-raising activities are reinvested in the MDJ. During our outings, they often don't have to pay anything to take part,” confided Sara-Maude, as Vincent looked on approvingly.

“We often hear from parents that MDJs are places where young people go to fool around or be delinquent, but that's not it at all. We're not just a place where young people come to gather, or a day-care service for teenagers. We forge bonds with them, support them in building their personalities. We play an important and underestimated role in their lives. Our relationships with them are based on respect rather than discipline. Some meet lifelong friends here.  Our gang is a good example. Four years after we came here, we're still friends,” observes Vincent.  

The young man continues. “They put a lot of effort into fundraising activities, even if they are for the benefit of the community. For her part, the general manager, Fanny LeBlanc, has done an excellent job since she took up the position, it's worth mentioning. She makes sure that young people are involved in decision-making,” he adds.

In addition to outdoor activities, the daily mission of the Maison des jeunes is to equip 12-17 year-olds to become active, critical and responsible citizens. To this end, several activities are organized on site. For example, there's a workshop on finance and collective cooking.

“We can also adapt our activities. For example, we can offer extra homework help when needed. Alternatively, we can organize laser tag, a weekend in a cottage or activities designed to make them more responsible, such as culinary workshops where participants decide which dishes to cook and which ingredients to buy,” cites Sara-Maude as an example. 

Sometimes, community organizers can also help young people with personal tasks such as writing a resume or filling out a CEGEP application. “If we can't help a young person, we'll find organizations that can. It's also our role to direct them to the right resource. As a community organizer, my role is to listen to them, advise them, remind them of the MDJ's instructions, but also sometimes to do some prevention on certain topical subjects. We can also distribute condoms or support teens who are experiencing difficult issues at home or elsewhere.”

Learn before you judge 

Vincent invites Cedars families with at least one teenager at home to visit the Maison des jeunes. “There's nothing better than coming to see or calling to ask questions if you have any concerns. Otherwise, our Annual General Meeting is open to anyone interested in learning more about our organization, mission, finances and more. Please don't hesitate to contact us, and we'll be happy to show you around or answer any questions you may have.”  

In closing, what are Sara-Maude and Vincent's best memories of MDJ? “Our weekend at a cottage. I still go, but as a counselor. There were 18-20 of us, and we had to plan our groceries and pack everything we brought in several cars. It's a really great trip. The staff and the young people who take part still look forward to these moments. It's a weekend when we get really close, spending time together around the fire or cooking. We get to know each other in a different way,” she concluded.