Benjamin Chabroux supports “dropouts” towards Christian-inspired professional training

Education and solidarity constitute the two common threads of his journey. A former student of the National School of Arts and Crafts (the famous “Gadzarts”), a graduate in mechanics, Benjamin Chabroux has been the head of the production school linked to the Catholic Institute of Arts and Crafts for seven years. by Lieusaint. The establishment offers young people aged 15 to 18 who have dropped out of school a training course in manual trades; with the ambition of teaching them two specialties: machining and electricity.

After seven years as a mechanics teacher in Seine-Saint-Denis, Benjamin joined Icam, an engineering school belonging to the Jesuit network, in 2014 because he wanted to combine technology and people. He has, in fact, been involved for a long time as a volunteer in associations such as Solidarité enfants sida, or even a neighborhood association in eastern Paris aimed at the inclusion of migrants and precarious people. The offer of the production school then appears to him as a way of translating his faith into action: “I am sensitive to Ignatian* pedagogy which supposes an unconditional welcome of young people and training in responsibility”, underlines- he.

An engaging lifestyle choice

In addition, he supervises the team responsible for “prospecting customers for whom our students manufacture parts”, and appreciates this link with companies. One aspect among others of a multi-faceted job: participating in the recruitment of students, sometimes managing behavioral or motivational problems… A task that is not always easy, but Benjamin testifies to his joy at “seeing these young people succeed”. Married and father of a 5-year-old daughter, this dance enthusiast joined a Christian Life Community two years ago. Once a month, these sharings in small groups help him to discuss his spiritual life, to reread his life and to meditate on the Word of God. “This allows me today to deploy my Christian faith in all dimensions of my existence: professional, family and friends,” he rejoices.

* Linked to the spirituality of the founder of the Jesuits, Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556).