Flag at the foot of buildings

In Marseilles since 1999, as elsewhere in the world, the Association Les Petits débrouillards has been working for “ Bringing science everywhere and for everyone, and of course, on the feet of buildings “Says Hughes Brough, Deputy Principal. Claire Kantine, Education Coordinator insists:” We give great importance to this scientific approach, from asking questions, formulating hypotheses and experimenting » and for “ Allowing the public to fit these thinking tools, we come up with social, environmental and scientific themes that allow us to understand them. ».

from the top 14^e Marseille district, you can enjoy the whole city. The heat is overwhelming but everyone is happy to attend the workshop. At the bottom of the buildings, residents opened fire hydrants to cool off. A few kids are playing, walking around this neighborhood where there is nothing but concrete and rubbish around to enjoy. Otherwise, the grass will dry out. A little further away, the rich cities pitched their tents. Throughout the week, Emma, ​​Walter and Mathis, and almost all the students, led workshops on various scientific and substantive topics. Yesterday they talked about pollination, today they made windmills and now they paint. Hisham is passionate and knows all about the difference between a wasp and a bee. And when Emma asks him questions, he’s never wrong.

But this evening, the seven kids present spent a big day climbing trees with the community centre. Going back, if they were “okay” to manufacture wind turbines, to talk about ecological transformation, it was a bit ridiculous. So the painters adapted. Depending on the groups they meet, the times and places in which they intervene, the audience shows more or less interest in the proposed topics. Their role as a mediator is to know how to always adapt in order to spark the curiosity and enthusiasm of young and old alike.

When researchers, educators, and facilitators created Les Petits Débrouillards in Canada at the end of the 1970s, it was with the ambition to share scientific curiosity with everyone.

Tonight, if the kids aren’t really excited about the ecological transition, the drawing proves to be an opportunity to think about their environment, fit in with their neighborhood, reconsider it and create “ Auto Map “.” Science calls itself everywhere. She doesn’t need anything, this workshop allows us to talk about urban planning says Emma, ​​who now has a special relationship with the kids. ” We asked them to think of their neighborhood and then what they would like to see there so they can draw it on the map. The children first started by drawing the French flag, then added buildings, toys and a swimming pool. And Eliana, 5, loves him. Even if it is on a separate sheet of paper, she prefers to draw sand and sea.