Les Amis Du Français en Vermillon French organization receives donation from internationally-known Confrerie D’abbeville

Confrerie d’Abbeville, a member of the international fraternity of French-speaking areas of the world promoting French language and heritage, recently donated $500 to Les Amis du Français en Vermillon (Friends of French in Vermilion), a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of French language, heritage and culture, and to the continued success of French education in Vermilion parish.
Confrerie d’Abbeville’s donation will be used to provide enrichment opportunities and cultural learning experiences for Vermilion parish French students, as well as opportunities for them to engage with their heritage. Les Amis du Français en Vermillon, a parent and community organization, promotes all things dealing with the Francophone cultures in Vermilion parish, and in turn provides support for French learning in the parish.
“Students studying French must have opportunities to use their French language outside of the classroom and interact with the Francophone community throughout Vermilion parish and all of Acadiana,” stated Layla Melancon, Director of Les Amis du Français en Vermillon. “If students are not given these opportunities, their French skills will be lost, and their dedication to the French language and culture will fade”, expressed Melancon. “We are extremely grateful for the encouragement and support we have received from Confrerie d’Abbeville, as they are helping us to bring these opportunities to the French students of Vermilion parish!”
Through donations such as the one made by Confrerie d’Abbeville, Les Amis du Français en Vermillon has provided a variety of activities and events for Vermilion parish French students and community members. Some have included the first annual “Fit for French Fun Walk” held during the “Giant Omelette Celebration”, along with the “Christmas in Erath French student performance”.
Recently Les Amis du Français en Vermillon hosted the “Courir de Mardi Gras Cultural Presentation” for Kindergarten through third grade students enrolled in the Vermilion parish French immersion
program. The organization also hosted the “Children’s Traditional Mardi Gras Costume-Making Workshop” and the “Children’s Traditional Mardi Gras Chicken Chase”, for students studying French in Vermilion parish.
These cultural activities and events for French students, allowed them the opportunity to discover the well-known Cajun Mardi Gras tradition of a “Courir de Mardi Gras”. Through the classroom presentation by Les Amis du Français en Vermillon, students learned the history of its beginnings in rural medieval France and how the tradition has evolved in Louisiana, as well as the current practices that have been preserved in this important tradition.
“In addition to learning about a historical Cajun Mardi Gras tradition, French students were able to truly experience it during a two night workshop hosted by Les Amis du Français en Vermillon, where they created their own traditional costume like those used in a ‘Courir de Mardi Gras’, shared Melancon. “Then, dressed in their full costume of shirt, mask and capuchon, the students were able to participate in an actual chicken chase in Erath City Park, the part of the “Courir de Mardi Gras” tradition that is most fun for everyone,” exclaimed Melancon!
Another very successful event for Vermilion parish communities hosted by Les Amis du Français en Vermillon, is “La Table Française” in Erath. It serves as a place to share the French language, as well as the stories of the communities’ strong French culture, both past and present. This weekly event had to be postponed for a while, but will be restarting in the near future, to continue promoting the understanding, study and appreciation of the native French language. The new start date and additional details regarding “La Table Française” will be shared with the public via local media, email, and Facebook!
Confrerie d’Abbeville is known for its’ promotion of French language and heritage locally, by hosting Abbeville’s internationally-known “Giant Omelette Festival”. Confrerie d’Abbeville and Les Amis du Français en Vermillon share a common bond in that they are both helping the communities of Vermilion parish to keep the area’s ties to its’ French culture alive, while maintaining and developing French language skills among people of all ages!
“We are truly humbled by donations such as the one given to us by Confrerie d’Abbeville,” expressed Melancon. “We are extremely thankful for their belief in our mission of promoting and preserving our French language, heritage and culture, and their support of our commitment to continue the success of French education in Vermilion Parish!”
For information on becoming a member of the Les Amis du Français en Vermillon parent and community organization, and/or making a donation to help them to continue providing Vermilion parish French students with French cultural and enrichment activities, please email the Director, Layla Melancon, at vermilionfrench@gmail.com.
Please “Follow” the Les Amis du Français en Vermillon Facebook page to stay connected! (Facebook.com/LesAmisDuFrancaisEnVermillon)