Sproken
B1French·20 cards

Getting Involved in Your French Neighbourhood

Talk about volunteering, local associations and neighbourhood councils, and explain why getting involved matters to you.

French civic life runs through associations: anyone can join or even found one under the 1901 law, from sports clubs to food banks like les Restos du cœur. Most towns hold open conseils de quartier where residents raise local issues with the mairie, and the September forum des associations is the easiest way to sign up for volunteering. Foreign residents can't vote in national elections, but EU citizens can register to vote in municipal and European elections.

Front view of a traditional French town hall in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France, during summer.
Photo: Antoine Pittet on Pexels
  1. 1

    J'aimerais m'investir davantage dans mon quartier.

    I'd like to get more involved in my neighbourhood.

  2. 2

    Tu fais partie d'une association ?

    Are you a member of an association?

  3. 3

    Je suis bénévole à la banque alimentaire le samedi.

    I volunteer at the food bank on Saturdays.

  4. 4

    Il y a une réunion du conseil de quartier jeudi soir.

    There's a neighbourhood council meeting on Thursday evening.

  5. 5

    Tout le monde peut venir, pas besoin d'être inscrit.

    Anyone can come, you don't need to be registered.

  6. 6

    C'est important de donner son avis.

    It's important to have your say.

  7. 7

    Si personne ne fait rien, rien ne changera.

    If nobody does anything, nothing will change.

  8. 8

    J'ai signé la pétition pour la piste cyclable.

    I signed the petition for the cycle lane.

  9. 9

    Tu peux compter sur moi !

    Count me in!

  10. 10

    Ça prend combien de temps par semaine ?

    How much time does it take each week?

  11. 11

    Même une heure par mois, ça aide.

    Even one hour a month helps.

  12. 12

    Je me suis inscrit au forum des associations.

    I signed up at the associations fair.

    Tip: Towns hold this fair every September.

  13. 13

    On fait signer une pétition pour sauver la bibliothèque.

    We're collecting signatures to save the library.

  14. 14

    C'est un moyen de rencontrer des gens.

    It's a way to meet people.

  15. 15

    En tant que citoyen européen, je peux voter aux municipales.

    As an EU citizen, I can vote in the local elections.

  16. 16

    J'ai pas beaucoup de temps, mais je veux aider.

    I don't have much time, but I want to help.

  17. 17

    Il faudrait en parler à la mairie.

    We should talk to the town hall about it.

  18. 18

    Ça concerne tout le monde.

    It's everyone's business.

  19. 19

    Je me sens utile.

    I feel useful.

  20. 20

    Tu veux venir avec moi la prochaine fois ?

    Do you want to come with me next time?