Juliette Lambert, a young, socially conscious woman and founder of the «Lokal Life» collective, talks to us about her perspective, the collective’s formation, and the many initiatives that have been carried out in the area over the past little more than two months.
Tell us a little about yourself
I lived in Wallis in the Pacific when I was little, and then in Martinique. After that, I moved to France to study to become a speech-language pathologist and returned to Martinique in January 2017. While I was in mainland France, I changed my consumption habits. I tried to reduce my waste on a daily basis, and I was successful. When I arrived here, I was truly confronted with a different world—one dominated by hypermarkets and with few easily accessible local alternatives. So I did some online research on what’s available in Martinique and realized there are plenty of people who want to consume in the same way I do, and that maybe we could all come together to find solutions as a group.
How did the project get started?
On September 28, I organized a get-together at my place through a Facebook event titled «Founding of the Lokal Life Collective». Seven people, most of whom were already involved in community organizations, came to the meeting. The takeaway from this first meeting was that consumers want to make better purchasing choices, but it was clear that few consumers were taking the same approach as we were. From there, I moderated the group via our Facebook page. The goal was also to share information about initiatives and events taking place in Martinique. Then I visited the respective locations of the collective’s members (nonprofits or businesses) and built networks.
Why a collective rather than an association?
I decided to start a collective because I didn’t want there to be a hierarchical relationship among the group members and I wanted everyone to be aware of their individual responsibility. What interests me is the idea of passing things on, but without me having to carry the entire burden. The foundation is exchange.
What are the objectives of «Local Life»
What matters most to me is taking action. The primary goal would be to come together, take action by raising individual awareness, and support that effort in a compassionate way.
What steps have been taken since the first meeting?
The first meeting took place in late September, and the second on November 4. This second meeting took the form of a «Koudmen» (a helping hand) to the Trenelle-Citron Community Garden and drew a larger crowd than the previous one. Exactly 16 people. I was very happy because there were people I didn’t know who weren’t part of the community organizations. The goal was to introduce people to the garden and to make a contribution.
There was a workshop on making deodorant, as well as hands-on workshops on making coconut oil and soap. Next week, we’ll be making avocado oil and ash soap.
We also took part in the “Clean Country” campaign as part of European Waste Reduction Week. The team was very motivated.
I also led a zero-waste workshop with a group of seven people I know to varying degrees, but who all wanted to reduce their waste. The goal was to find practical solutions for each person and draw up a list of steps they’ll need to take to achieve their goals. We’re supposed to meet again in three months to check in. Right now, I’m the one supporting them, but in a year or two, they’ll be the ones supporting others. That’s the power of spreading the word!
In the meantime, we are working on creating an interactive map that lists all the addresses of fruit and vegetable producers who offer a produce basket service, including delivery locations and dates.
So, is the reception good?
Yes, I feel that people want to get involved, but there’s often conscious or unconscious resistance. By organizing events, it’s easier for people to get involved without feeling afraid, since they feel less alone. I’m really happy because I feel like there’s fertile ground here. There are lots of young people my age who want to see things move forward!
And how do you feel about the results?
I started the collective for myself, to consume more responsibly, so I’m already happy because I’m learning a lot and discovering supply chains I didn’t know about. I’m meeting people in the field who are doing the same thing. It’s also rewarding on a social level. I didn’t have any expectations to begin with, so it’s all been positive! For me, the real results will come when someone says to me, «I want to do a workshop with «Lokal Life»and that he sees his project through to the end on his own initiative. At that point, I'll know that he has truly come to realize something for himself.".
Interview by Mariska Desmarquis
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1209626239141792/
Website: www.lokalife972.wordpress.com
