Sowing the seeds of citizenship

How can we rebuild social bonds in a society where many feel a sense of fragmentation and individualism? How can we encourage every citizen—from an early age—to play an active role in their community? These questions lie at the heart of the work carried out by the Association Nationale pour le Civisme, an organization the Michelin Corporate Foundation is proud to support as it grows. 

For ten years, the association has been rolling out the Passeport du Civisme (Civic Passport) to guide young people as they discover citizenship, solidarity, and the common good. By forging a tangible link between school, family, and the local community, this initiative enables thousands of children to take part in civic activities that give meaning to their role in society. 

What convinced us was its ability to transform the desire to act into concrete commitment. The Passeport du Civisme does more than just raise awareness; it invites everyone to put citizenship into practice through actions that benefit the community. This approach helps strengthen social cohesion while fostering a sense of responsibility, mutual aid, and commitment to the common good. 

The Passeport du Civisme is also built on a collaborative approach. Nearly 600 municipalities, along with several departments and regions in France, are currently involved in its rollout. Together, they form a genuine laboratory for local initiatives, where elected officials, teachers, associations, and citizens cooperate to bring the values ​​of civic engagement to life on a daily basis. 

To pursue this ambition, the association is launching CIVIK —an app designed to extend this momentum to new audiences, particularly teenagers and young adults. Customizable by each municipality, this tool will help highlight volunteer work, mobilize residents for solidarity or environmental initiatives, support local cultural life, and foster more active citizenship participation. 

With CIVIK, local authorities will have a new tool to unite local stakeholders, encourage engagement, and strengthen dialogue with residents. The application will facilitate the shift from intention to action by making engagement opportunities more visible, accessible, and attractive. 

At the Michelin Corporate Foundation, we are convinced that the major challenges of our time call for new forms of cooperation capable of bringing people together and strengthening solidarity. The Passeport du Civisme and the CIVIK app fully embody this vision: that of a society where everyone can contribute, in their own way, to the common good. 

Because lasting transformations often stem from local initiatives, the Association Nationale pour le Civisme is sowing today the seeds of tomorrow’s citizenship.