The REC THAT project experimented with our capacity to switch from a pure cultural and artistic NGO to a full fledge integration and educationnal outlet. Even though the project had its hickups, it gave the motivation to think beyond this first experiment and now, we are applying in our city for a much more ambitious project where, following the same guidelines - artistic residencies providing grounds for youth to learn for free a rather complicated but highly valued profession, sound engineer. It is the REC THAT project that gave us the motivation to do so. We are happy to have shown and taught underprivileged kids how to use, creatively and professionally professional sound equipment. We cannot be assured that it will have a decisive impact on their lives but we are certain that it had an amazing impact on their self-esteem and also gave them fir sure the feeling that good things could also happen to them and that they are not foresaken from society after all.
Grand Angle set up this project in order to experiment with professional integration of underpriviledged youth starting from a strong cultural basis and an artistic aim. The target audience for REC THAT is not able to train in the sound professions for obvious financial reasons. REC THAT allowed them to learn the basics of all these techniques for free while participating in the creation of a sound work that they could be proud of and that they would have the opportunity to present in front of their families and friends, in their city of Saint-Denis, thus reinforcing the pride and ambition aspect of the project. In addition to the obvious need for training and inclusion in a high value-added project, we believe that it is somewhat the need for attention and trust that has been the most important contribution of the association to the young people. The fact of offering them professional sound gear and making them responsible with it, the fact of entrusting them with a mission of creation in team with as objective the opening of a festival today recognised worldwide has allowed to boost their confidence and has given them for the future the assurance of their creative and professional potential.