"Family Outings" - Get out, share, thrive

The “Family Outings” project grew out of a collective initiative led by the Maison de Quartier de la Pontaise, in collaboration with the Vinet-Beaulieu collective. For more than two years, regular gatherings held every Wednesday morning have allowed many families—particularly single mothers—to meet, connect, and participate in various creative and educational workshops. Over time, these weekly gatherings have helped forge a true, supportive community. Several mothers then expressed a desire to expand these opportunities for socializing through group outings outside the neighborhood. Project partners: The Espace Enfance Vinet daycare center, as part of its initiative titled “Les sorties curieuses.” This project aims to offer parents and children opportunities to spend time together in a friendly atmosphere, while allowing them to discover new places, resource centers, a variety of activities, and interesting institutions to explore. With this in mind, we met with a staff member from the daycare center to show her our facilities and the activities we offer to families. It was agreed that the Espace Enfance Vinet daycare center would share this information with its users to encourage their participation in this joint project.

• Families in the Vinet-Pontaise neighborhood, prioritizing those in socially vulnerable situations or experiencing social isolation. • Children accompanied by their parents, starting from a very young age. • Single mothers, particularly those who are unemployed, who are often the primary beneficiaries of these spaces.

Project: “Family Outings” — Get Out, Share, Thrive 1. Origin of the Project The “Family Outings” project emerged from a community-driven initiative led by the Maison de Quartier de la Pontaise, in collaboration with the Vinet-Beaulieu collective. For over two years, regular gatherings held every Wednesday morning have allowed many families—particularly single mothers—to meet, connect, and participate in various creative and educational workshops. Over time, these weekly gatherings have helped forge a true, supportive community. Several mothers then expressed a desire to expand these opportunities for socializing through group outings outside the neighborhood. Project partners: The Espace Enfance Vinet daycare center, as part of its initiative titled “Les sorties curieuses.” This project aims to offer parents and children opportunities to spend time together in a friendly atmosphere, while allowing them to discover new places, resource centers, a variety of activities, and interesting institutions to explore. With this in mind, we met with a staff member from the daycare center to show her our facilities and the activities we offer to families. It was agreed that the Espace Enfance Vinet daycare center would share this information with its users to encourage their participation in this joint project. 2. Project Objectives • Promote social cohesion and the integration of families into life in the Vinet-Pontaise neighborhood. • Break down isolation, particularly among single mothers or those disconnected from traditional social networks. • To provide opportunities for relaxation and discovery shared between parents and children. • To strengthen families’ autonomy by actively involving them in the co-organization of activities. • To promote parenting and civic skills by giving participants a voice and responsibilities. 3. Target Audience • Families in the Vinet-Pontaise neighborhood, prioritizing those in situations of social vulnerability or isolation. • Children accompanied by their parents, starting from a very young age. • Single mothers, particularly those who are unemployed, who are often the primary beneficiaries of these spaces. 4. Practical Organization • The project is co-developed with families during the weekly Wednesday morning drop-in sessions. • A group of volunteer mothers helps plan the logistics of outings (locations, schedules, needs, meals, transportation, etc.). • The Community Center handles administrative oversight, coordination, and liaises with external service providers. • The costs of the outings are partially covered by the Community Center, with families contributing a nominal fee. 5. Proposed Activities for 2026 To date, no specific schedule has been established, as this will be developed in consultation with the participating families. This participatory approach ensures that the outings truly reflect the wishes, needs, and availability of families in the neighborhood. Nevertheless, several ideas for outings have already been proposed collectively, including: • Boat trip: exploring Lake Geneva and its heritage. • Nature outing: family hike and picnic in the great outdoors. • Day in the mountains: exploring wildlife, outdoor games, sledding, or other activities. • Family weekend: a stay at a vacation rental to strengthen family bonds and foster togetherness. • Cultural outing: a visit to a museum or attending a children’s show. These proposals will serve as the foundation for developing a progressive and adaptable program, with the active involvement of families at every stage. 6. Highlights • Collective planning of outings, opportunities for parents to connect. • The outings themselves, experienced as times of joy and strengthening of family bonds. • Feedback sessions: each outing is followed by a time for sharing and evaluation. 7. Communication • Posters and flyers in local businesses and public spaces. • Information provided during Wednesday morning drop-off. • Communication with users of the “Espace Enfance Vinet” daycare center • Posts on the Community Center’s social media accounts. 8. Project Evaluation • Family satisfaction survey after each outing. • Testimonials and photos (with consent). • Monitoring of key indicators: number of participants, diversity of the audience, level of engagement. • An annual report summarizing feedback and suggesting areas for improvement.

Vinet-Pontaise Neighborhood

January–December 2026

3,000

Vinet Beaulieu Collective – Espace Enfance Vinet Daycare Center