How can we mobilize citizens to advocate for the causes that matter to them? How can we show them that they have the power? This is the initiative proposed by Make.org, an organization founded in 2016 by Axel Dauchez and Alicia Combaz. “It started from a feeling that has become a reality: that of a democratic decline. That is to say, a democracy that not only struggles to act on the realities of people but also a democracy that, instead of reconciling, fractures.”
Axel Dauchez, an entrepreneur with a diverse background, has felt the need to participate in the changes that society needs: ecology, fighting violence, inclusion... According to him, these changes go through a crucial step: citizen participation!
So, with Make.org and his teams, he strives to bring together public authorities and citizens so that together they can address issues deemed important.
For almost a decade, nearly 90 actions have been carried out: “I am somewhat marked by the first very large cause we undertook,” Axel recounts, [...] the major cause against violence towards women.” He specifies that at that time, MeToo had not yet emerged, and bringing together different entities to make changes “was not as obvious as it is today.” It took 3 years to successfully carry out this action and develop, among other things, Mémo de vie, a site “that is very secure where women victims of violence can record what is happening to them.”
Regularly, the Make.org site publishes participatory questionnaires. It aims to gather around sixty associations and 500,000 French citizens around important topics to potentially carry out significant concrete actions.
If you wish to deepen your knowledge on this topic: https://www.airzen.fr/monde-dapres-ecole-de-demain-le-college-citoyen-de-france/
