A Maison de jeunes (MDJ) is a living environment that complements family and school, where young people aged 12 to 17 come together to have fun, get involved in various projects and develop in a healthy way, with a view to becoming critical, active and responsible adults.

There is no specific clientele, regardless of social status, gender, race, language or religion. The only condition is that you must be aged between 12 and 17.

Young people can take part in a wide range of activities. Regular activities: billiards, ping-pong, computer, homework, mississippi, chatting, watching movies, playing or listening to music, etc. Special activities: field trips, prevention workshops on various themes affecting young people, activities promoting health and well-being, trips, self-financing activities, variety shows, plays or any other activities proposed by young people.

The rules in our six MDJs are rules of group etiquette that boil down to respect for self, others and equipment. Also, any consumption of drugs or alcohol is strictly forbidden in a youth center and on its territory. If a young person is in a state of consumption, we ask him or her to leave the premises.

Parents can visit the MDJ to see the premises and meet the staff on site to ask questions. However, they cannot spend the whole evening there, as the MDJ is aimed at teenagers aged 12 to 17. They can contact the animation team at any time if they have any questions.

Young people and parents can get involved at the MDJ as volunteers on the Board of Directors. Youth and adult volunteers can also get involved in the community through fund-raising activities and other projects. In addition, the MDJ collaborates and consults with partners and other community organizations on specific causes, such as drug and crime prevention, or raising awareness of young people's experiences. It shares its expertise and is active in the community to promote the Maisons de Jeunes project.

At all times, two qualified staff ensure that the MDJ runs smoothly and that the rules are respected. Young people are supervised, and when they experience difficulties or feel the need, they can be listened to, accompanied and referred to local resources, free of charge and confidentially.

Despite its physical proximity to the Maison de Jeunes, the skatepark does not belong to the MDJ. It belongs to the city of Mirabel. As a result, our staff have no control over what goes on there.

Attending the Maison de Jeunes can teach them how democracy works. Young people can break their isolation, meet interesting people and learn to plan, organize and carry out projects. They can develop strengths such as autonomy, creativity and a sense of responsibility. The Maison de Jeunes is a resource that enables young people to make conscious, enlightened choices, by informing and questioning themselves, so that they have several ways of seeing things and taking their place in society. Finally, young people can simply come to relax, have fun and get away from the stress of everyday life (school, family, etc.).

The worker is not necessarily trained as a social worker, but is very well equipped. He or she has good social skills learned from personal experience or academic training. They have good adaptability skills and are able to develop a meaningful bond with young people, i.e. a relationship of quality and equality between themselves and the young person.

The aim is to help young people become active and responsible critical citizens. Critical, by enabling young people to become informed and question themselves, in order to develop their critical faculties and broaden their horizons. Active by taking charge of their own leisure time: young people can propose an activity and organize themselves to make it happen, with the support of the animation team. Responsible, assuming the consequences of their choices. Which means they can make a mistake and have to take it back if necessary.

The MDJ offers homework help every evening. Computers, printers and school supplies are available (dictionary, Bescherelle, pencils, ruler, etc.). Helpers can also give young people a hand with studying or helping them to understand a subject.