Coming with 15-17 year-olds

You can bring young people under 18 to Taizé to take part in the meetings.

If you come with a group, read carefully the page “Bringing a group of young people”.

15 to 17 year olds can take part if they are authorized and accompanied (see below).

If they are under 15, they can only take part in the family program with their parents.

Glossary

Group leader: an adult who has the final responsibility for a group of young people and who coordinates all the other supervisors.

Contact person: an adult who is responsible for a small sharing-group, helping with the daily activities of this group and making sure all take part in the program. This person ensures the link between the different small groups and the person who gives the bible reflections.

Supervisor: an adult chosen by the group leader to help supervise the young people of the group day and night. For groups made up of boys and girls, male and female supervisors are necessary.

Legal guardian: an adult member of the group chosen by the parents and able to make decisions for the minor when necessary, primarily medical ones, that the young person cannot make alone.

N.B. The same person can have several functions. For example, a contact person can be a supervisor and a legal guardian.

Parental authorisation

Minors must bring with them a written authorization from their parents allowing them to take part in the youth meetings. This authorization must name a legal guardian and give him or her the ability to make medical decisions if necessary. The guardian must be able to be reached by a mobile phone You will find here the form that you can use. Please also check if the authorities of your country ask for an authorization to leave the country with minors.

Contact persons

For groups with young people 15 to 17 years old, there must be one contact person for every 10 youths (if possible people 20 to 35 years old or older). During a stay at Taizé the role of a contact person is to accompany a small sharing-group, helping with the daily activities of this group and making sure all take part in the program.

These small groups are formed on Monday or the day following their arrival. A small group is made up of about ten young people who have come with different groups. They meet in the morning and the afternoon. Each day the activities of the small groups will be explained by a brother or someone chosen by the community.

The contact persons should be registered with the 15-17 year-olds in the program for that age, even if they are over 35. They can give the same financial contribution as the young people.

Accommodation

In accordance with French regulations, we accommodate minors separately from adults. The group leader is responsible for this.

To ensure that young people behave appropriately and get a good night’s sleep, the supervisors stay nearby.

These persons should be registered with the 15-17 year-olds in the program for that age, even if they are over 35. They can give the same financial contribution as the young people.

If a supervisor over 35 needs separate accommodations, please register him or her in the list of “adults” and note in the comments that he or she is a supervisor.

Safeguarding advice

The group leader who comes to Taizé with minors must ensure ahead of time that all those who accompany the minors in the group can do this work properly. Check the requirements in your country for those who are responsible for minors, follow them and bring the necessary documents with you to Taizé. You may be asked to show them at the welcome.

The group leader must ensure the presence of all the contact persons and the supervisors of the 15-17 year-old group during the explanatory meeting before the first bible introduction. You will be told when and where it will take place when you arrive. During this meeting important information will be given concerning safeguarding during the small-group animation.

Please also read the pages “Health Matters” and “Safeguarding”.