The “1 young person, 1 mentor” plan, announced by Emmanuel Macron in March 2021, aims to increase the number of young people benefiting from guidance in their academic path, career choices, and professional integration. The State has mobilized 30 million euros to “fight against inequality of opportunities”. A report released by the National Institute of Youth and Popular Education (Injep) in early April 2024 shows that 160,000 young people were accompanied in 2023, compared to 30,000 in 2020. While the report does not address the actual effects of mentoring programs on young people (this will be the subject of a second report in 2025), it focuses on the implementation of the program in the various structures, mostly associations, that participate.
Drawing on a comprehensive summary of international studies on the subject, the report highlights areas of concern for France, particularly regarding the training of mentors, the duration of young people’s support, and the precariousness of mentorship providers. Jérôme Gautié, economics professor at the University of Paris-I and president of the scientific council evaluating the “1 young person, 1 mentor” plan, discusses the nuances of mentorship in France. Mentorship, which emerged in the United States in the early 20th century and arrived in France in the 1980s, encompasses coaching, tutoring, and mentoring. In the programs offered by the sixty-one structures participating in the “1 young person, 1 mentor” plan, young people are supported by experienced individuals to aid in their orientation, professional integration, social skills development, networking, psychological support, skills sharing, and more.
The aim of these programs is to combat social inequalities, self-censorship, and unemployment among young people. The profile of the young people and the structures involved in the “1 young person, 1 mentor” plan varies widely, with 90% of the structures being associations. The diversity is evident in the number of young people they support through mentorship; in 2022, a quarter of them mentored less than 100, while only four larger structures had over 5,000 mentees. 20% of the structures are exclusively dedicated to mentorship, while others also participate in various national programs for young people such as “Cordées de la réussite”, “Cités éducatives”, “Parrainage pour l’emploi”, etc.
Overall, the “1 young person, 1 mentor” plan has seen success in expanding mentorship opportunities for young people in France, but there are areas of improvement identified, such as mentor training, length of support, and provider stability. The ultimate goal of these mentorship programs is to empower young people, provide them with guidance and support, and help them navigate their academic and professional paths successfully. As the program continues to evolve and expand, ongoing evaluation and adjustment will be crucial to ensure its effectiveness in addressing inequalities and promoting the well-being of young people across the country.
