A whole territory in four walls

Head to the north of the Phocaean city, more precisely to Saint-Jérôme, a district in the 13th arrondissement. You are not dreaming, we have not left Marseille, yet here we are in the heart of a vast wooded area of 6 hectares, a real oasis in the heart of the metropolis. Continuing in the woods, a building stands in front of us: a freshly renovated ancient monastery, which has come back to life by making the concept of transmission a local reality. The principle is simple: entrepreneurs and resident associations develop their business there, while committed to training young people. An initiative that makes sense north of Marseille, where nearly half of 18-25 year olds are unemployed, and a third of households below the poverty line.

Like every historic site, The Cloister has had several lives, but from the beginning, its walls have been linked to the notion of openness. Originally, it welcomed the Sisters of the Visitation, a religious order founded in the 15th century, whose particularity was that it was “open to everyone, even those rejected by other monastic communities.”

When the sisters left in 1989, the site was bought by the Fondation des Apprentis d'Auteuil. A charitable organization created in 1866, which works on education, training, and family support. Following this purchase, it was changed into a place of reception for the most disadvantaged. But over time, this huge building shows signs of wear and tear, and its renovation becomes inevitable, an expense the foundation cannot afford.

In 2017, after being on the brink of resale, a new idea saved the former monastery: to create a hub for entrepreneurship and social innovation. A challenging project, especially at the financial level, which was made possible thanks to valuable partners. Arnaud Castagnède, director of the Cloister, says: “All this would have been inconceivable without our meeting with Ashoka social entrepreneurs “Fellows” (partners), and the help of local institutions.”

In 2018, 3.5 million euros were invested jointly by the Foundation and the European Union, with the participation of the Regional Economic Development Fund, and conversion work began. January 2019, the cloister, brand new, opens its doors. Businesses and organizations set up on site and begin their mission: to support young people in the region towards employment.

Who are the residents of the Cloister? Those whom Arnaud Castagnède calls the “makers of the future”? These are 16 initiatives, which cover a broad spectrum of professions. Their only thing in common is to carry out a high value-added activity, oriented to the future, guaranteeing apprentices to receive training that is compatible with the reality of the labour market. For Arnaud Castagnède, it is a success, he declares that “More than a training course, it is a real support towards employment. Each year, we welcome a total of 200 apprentices in the various resident companies.”

À la carte: customer relationships, digital and energy professions, concierge services, agriculture and even catering. And with so many activities on the same site, synergies have emerged. On the Cloister estate, 2 hectares are dedicated to the urban peasant integration farm. By teaching its apprentices the profession of farmer, the association produces aromatic micro plants for restaurant owners. Their favorite customer is not far away, as it is also on the site: it is the restaurant des Jardins du Cloaître, an establishment run by Michel Portos, a two-Michelin-starred chef.

This human chain has everything of a virtuous circle: those who learn to cultivate the land provide the great chefs of tomorrow with herbs. And these local products, once enhanced, travel to customers in the hands of budding butlers. In the end: the apprentices are trained, the farm and the restaurant are running great, and the customers are enjoying themselves.

This organization, organized like paper, hits the mark on all aspects. Arnaud Castagnède affirms it: “Today, Le Cloister is operating at full capacity and we train young people who come out qualified at the end of their apprenticeship contract. We will continue as long as it is possible to increase our actions. The need to extend a model that works is unique to an impact entrepreneur.”

Four years after its opening, the Cloister is a victim of its success! Every year, entrepreneurs and apprentices scramble to join this adventure. But as big as it is, the original site is no longer sufficient to satisfy this demand. This is why Arnaud Castagnède announces “that a second location will open, in order to duplicate our action. A place where it would be possible, in particular, to create a new restaurant, and a larger farm to produce our own products.”

While waiting for the opening of this new site, the Cloister will put on its evening dress several times. On the program: Banquets in honor of the Rugby World Cup, classical music concerts by candlelight, gala dinners or even jazz evenings. So many opportunities to prove to anyone who still doubts it, that the former convent has more than one trick up its sleeve.

Who could have said, a few years ago, when the Cloister was withering away, that it would be the scene of such a beautiful revival? A true example of social entrepreneurship, its formula is just waiting to be expanded and exported, so that everyone can live their vocation, regardless of their social origin.