Office franco-québécois pour la jeunesse

The Office franco-québécois pour la jeunesse (OFQJ) is a bi-governmental organization for professional and civic mobility of young people aged 18 to 35 between France and Québec. It was created in 1968 by the governments of the French Republic and Québec and has been established on both sides of the Atlantic since then. Its mission is to advise and accompany young people in turning their mobility aspirations into concrete actions, offering programs such as professional experiences, internships, and civic missions.

The creation of the OFQJ is tied to the context of the 1960s. In 1967, after his visit to Québec, General de Gaulle proposed to Daniel Johnson, Premier of Québec, the creation of an Office franco-québécois pour la jeunesse. The protocol officially giving birth to the Office franco-québécois pour la jeunesse was signed in Paris on 9 February 1968 by François Missoffe and Jean-Marie Morin. The new bi-governmental Office was tasked with organizing the first youth exchanges the following summer. On 4 June 1968, the first exchanges began. In that first year, the two sections sent more than 2,000 trainees: 1,100 French and 978 Québécois. Since its creation, the OFQJ has continued its initial mission of contributing to bringing French and Québécois youth closer together and to their social and professional integration, and the opening of programs to third countries demonstrates a desire to act together to develop new axes of cooperation in the Francophonie.

Bi-governmental organization for youth mobility and cooperation between France and Québec.

1. 1Office franco-québécois pour la jeunesse - OFQJ en Franceofqj.org
2. 2Histoire de l'OFQJ - OFQJ en Franceofqj.org