Tom Girondel
Photographer

Eight-grade pupils Louis and Esteban climb a small cliff nearby the entrance of La Meule harbour located on the wild coast. Yeu island, France - 01/05/2019.

8th-grade pupil Louis-Jacques does stunts with a trampoline buoy on Cours du Moulin’s beach. Hyperactive and sporty, he spends a lot of his free time doing various sports activities by the seashore. Yeu island, France - 16/10/2018

Sunrise on the island and its natural wastelands from the Big Lighthouse, located to the north towards the Pointe du But. 31% of the island’s territory is classified as a natural area of ecological and floristic interest in order to prevent this area from being built. Yeu island, France - 19/10/2018

Whatever the weather conditions, 7th graders Louis, Felix, Enzo, and Mael like to explore with their bicycles the Citadelle woods located on the heights of main harbour town Port-Joinville. Yeu island, France - 19/10/2018

"We like to come here, out of sight (...) No one judges us in the woods. This is our place. We feel free and at ease." confides 12-year-old student Louis.

7th graders attend chemistry class in the Sicardières middle school which overlooks the ocean. Offshore the mainland's coast is seen. The middle school has 108 pupils for 10 teachers. It is classified as a priority education zone due to its lack of access to culture, its absence of a nurse, and its geographical isolation. The slightest trip to the mainland requires a boat trip. Yeu island, France - 28/01/2019

Mael, Lenita, Enora, and Chloe walk on the waterfront after school.

"I feel a little nervous about going to boarding school on the mainland next year (...) I'm going to miss my friends, my family, my beaches and the atmosphere. But everyone knows everyone here, so I'm looking forward to being independent and living in anonymity (...) Since there are no clothing stores here, I'm also looking forward to going to the mainland for high school," says 14-year-old Mael. Yeu island, France - 09/05/2019

The youth of the island like – depending on the weather, tides and seasons – jumping off the rocks and cliffs of the wild coast. Risky "sport", most of the boys have already jumped from spots with many nicknames such as "Kami", "The Rudder", "The 19", "The Canyon". 8th graders Louis, Esteban, Kenny, Renaud, Marie, and Coline stare at Tilio 15 jumping off an 11-meters high cliff nearby the harbour of La Meule. Yeu island, France - 01/05/2019

Early morning view of Port-Joinville main entrance and its fishing boats. Fishing provides a livelihood for about a hundred families on the island for a population – year-round – of 4891 inhabitants. Once an important tuna port, the island has gradually turned towards tourism to offset the decline in fishing. Yeu island, France - 01/05/2019

After getting up at dawn, Jeanne, Zoé, and Maeva accompanied by Enzo join the mainland to attend a regional sports competition aboard a fast catamaran. It is the only boat authorized to sail in winter, as it can handle the strong swells. Yeu island, France - 30/01/2019

9th-graders Elisa and Mael are childhood friends. They decided to join nearby their middle-school to chat and surf the Internet using their mobile phones. Despite the isolation, the oldest of Sicardières middle-school are craving for social networking with their older friends who study on the mainland at boarding schools. Yeu island, France - 23/05/2019

Golden gorses overlook the ocean near Anse des Soux. Yeu is famous for its unspoiled nature and moderate urbanization. Tourism is an integral part of the economy. Yeu island, France - 02/05/2019.

During the long Whit May weekend, passengers disembark from the "Compagnie Vendéenne" shuttle in Port-Joinville. Contrary to winter, the shuttles make dozens of round trips each day to pour out its stream of tourists. Yeu island, France - 30/05/2019

Tourism in Yeu Island is an integral part of the economy. During high season (June to September) Yeu can accommodate more than 30,000 summer visitors. The second homes (about 2900) are larger than the main residences (2139), with 258 vacant units. Because of the low capacity, seasonal rentals are popular and expensive, making Yeu a very expensive destination

Dressed in wetsuits, Antonin, Esteban, Louise, and Pierrick will make their first dive of the 2019 season at the harbour of La Meule. Yeu island, France - 29/04/2019

The island's Diving Centre has been open since 1992. It has been working with the Sicardières middle school for 8 years. The group of pupils is composed of a maximum of 12 students, divided from the 6th to the 9th grade. Each group is supervised by a state certificate. They are the only students in France to practice scuba diving in the sports section. The aquatic activity lasts from the beginning of the school year to November. Then from May until the end of June.

Tourists enjoy an exceptional warmth during the long Whit May weekend on the Sabias beach and its view to the Old Castle. A spot for tourists, the Sabias as well as others are abandoned by the locals in favour of less popular beaches during high season. Yeu island, France - 31/05/2019.

Free afternoon courses for the group of friends of the 7th and 8th grades. They decided to join on a pocket beach located nearby Sabias beach, which is overcrowded by the "continental" tourists in high season. Yeu island, France - 03/05/2019

8th-grade pupil Louis-Jacques does his homework in the living room of his parents' house with a view to the Atlantic ocean nearby Port-Joinville. Yeu island, France - 16/10/2018

"My bedroom is too small (...) I prefer to do my homework alone in my living room because I can stare at the sea. I’m always looking forward to go outside."

Offshore Marais Salé beach, eight graders Antonin, Kenny, and Esteban are paddling on a dugout canoe during a regional contest. Yeu island, France - 05/04/2019.
"These children have an incredible will to win (...) when it comes to competing in sports here, or on the mainland." says sea kayaking instructor Nelson Audoin, 26.

A small train which offers guided tours of the island passes by a former sardine cannery in Port-Joinville. Once an important fishing port on the French Atlantic coast, the island of Yeu has seen its activity declining in recent decades. In order to maintain a sustainable economy, tourism has developed strongly in recent years. Yeu island, France - 25/05/2019

"Most of the children on the island know each other since the kindergarten (...) For better or worse." says Sicardières’middle school headmaster Eric Albiero.

Three students are enjoying a sunny day on a pocket beach while climbing a small cliff nearby Sabias beach. The groups of friends are close-knit young, until adulthood. They then meet every weekend, or during long holidays to celebrate their friendships. Yeu island, France - 03/05/2019

The mariner’s Calvary at Châtelet’s point. Located on the wild coast, this protected natural site possesses biodiversity which resembles
the seascapes of Britanny and Ireland. Yeu island, France - 30/04/2019

Aubin, born islander and former Sicardières'pupil is now a high school student on the mainland in La Roche-sur-Yon. He poses at the harbour of Les Vieilles during a Sunday afternoon. Yeu Island, France - 18/05/2019.

A holiday home closed during winter. Secondary houses represent 57.9% of the total number of homes and its share in tourist accommodation is still increasing, reaching 94.7% (2017 - Cahiers Nantais, l'île d' Yeu 25 years later). Yeu island, France - 02/10/2020

Two young people ride their mopeds on the main pier at the entrance of Port-Joinville on a wintry Saturday. Contrary to the summer's atmosphere, the island shows its true face out of season. Calm is omnipresent and the islanders gather together. Yeu island, France - 08/02/2020

The Insula Oya II ship provides an essential link between the mainland and Yeu, and more specifically for carrying goods. It has been in service since 1983 and has a length of about 50 meters. It will be replaced in 2021. Yeu island, France - 12/02/2020

Théo and Félix, pupils at the Sicardières middle-school, pass-by the Chiens-Perrins turret at the Pointe du But during a bicycling afternoon on the wild coast. The island’s closed borders protect children from the outside and their parents allow them to travel freely within this area. Yeu island, France - 26/01/2019

A man stands by the heliport at the end of storm Ines. The heliport is open all-year-round. Yeu is the only French island served by helicopter. A private company ensures the transport of freight, passengers and medical evacuations. Yeu island, France - 13/02/2020

A rough sea, with 5 meters swell, hits the Belle Maison's beach located on the wild coast. Yeu island, France - 27/01/2019

Storm Gabriel hits the island before it makes landfall on the mainland with northwesterly violent winds reaching 128 km/h.
8th grade’s pupil Louis-Jacques decides to face the wind gusts by walking from his home to the Gournaise beach. Yeu island, France - 29/01/2019

A shuttle leaves the island to the mainland. Mael, Lenita, Chloe and Ilona, ninth-grade students, like to spend their free time by the port. If they are not on terraces like the adults, to watch the boats leaving Yeu, they walk on the main pier. Yeu island, France - 09/05/2019

Seagulls fly at sunset in front of the Big Lighthouse located on the wild coast of the island. Yeu Island, France - 24/05/2019.

7th graders Rudy, Louis, and Mael, are resting nearby a famous spot by the cliffs of La Meule harbour called the "Yellowhead" during a Sunday afternoon by the wild coast. Yeu island, France - 02/02/2019

An aerial view of the Pointe des Corbeaux and the sandy "continental" beaches. Yeu Island is 9.9 km long and 3.5 km wide and has about 40 km of coastline. Yeu island, France - 31/05/2019

Portrait of high school student Esteban Jacotey in his high school located in the department of Vendée. Esteban left Yeu Island one year ago and returns each weekend or every week depending on the health restrictions in his high school due to the Covid-19 pandemic. La Roche-sur-Yon, France - 19/05/2021

Masked people enjoy the sun by the main beachwalk of Les Sables d'Olonne located on the mainland on 14/10/2020.

16-years old high-schooler and born islander Mael checks her mobile phone in front of the boarding school of the Savary de Mauléon. Les Sables d'Olonne, France - 30/09/2020.

In the library 16 year-old student Mael 16 (R) and her classmates joined during the school break at the Savary de Mauléon high school. Les Sables d'Olonnes, France - 14/10/2020

On winter 16-years-old student and born islander Mathys (L) and his classmates eat at lunch in a park on a free-courses Wednesday. This is the only time he doesn't have classes during the week while studying at a boarding school located on the mainland. Challans, France - 02/10/2021

High schoolers and friends Morgane 16, Jade, 15, Mael, 16, Chloé and Océane 16 stroll in a shopping center during a Wednesday afternoon break. Les Sables d'Olonnes, France - 14/10/2020

On the outskirt of La Roche-sur-Yon city,15-years-old student and born islander Esteban walks to a supermarket as usual on Wednesday afternoons. La Roche-sur-Yon, France - 19/05/2021

16-years-old student and born islander Mael (L) went with her classmates from the boarding school located on the mainland to a fun fair center located in a shopping mall during a Wednesday afternoon break. Les Sables d'Olonne, France - 14/10/2020

As everyday Wednesday afternoon 16-years-old student and born islander Mathys (R) and his classmates went to a supermarket to enjoy the warmth and to go shopping before coming back to their boarding school. Challans, France - 02/10/2021

16-years-old student and born islander Mael (Middle) rests with her classmates from the boarding school located on the mainland in a bowling alley. Les Sables d'Olonne, France - 14/10/2020

15-years-old student and born islander Louis-Jacques (R) meets up with his classmates Maxime and Lucien nearby their boarding school on the grass during a free afternoon classes. La Roche-sur-Yon, France - 12/06/202

16-years-old and born islander Mael finished her surfing lesson at Les Sables d'Olonne's beach located on the mainland where her boarding school propose to their students surfing lessons on Wednesday afternoons. Les Sables d'Olonne, France - 30/09/2020

Portrait of high school student Esteban Jacotey in front of his high school located in the department of Vendée. Esteban left Yeu Island one year ago and returns each weekend or every week depending on the health restrictions in his high school due to the Covid-19 pandemic. La Roche-sur-Yon, France - 19/05/2021

16-years-old student and born islander Mael walks in the courtyard with her classmates before attending a class at the boarding school of Savary de Mauléon. Les Sables d'Olonnes, France - 14/10/2020

15-years-old students Maxime, Louis-Jacques and Lucien walk in the courtyard of their boarding school Pierre Mendès France located in La Roche-sur-Yon on 12/06/2021

The De Lattre de Tassigny high school and boarding school architecture located in La Roche-sur-Yon counts around 900 pupils and 300 residents. La Roche-sur-Yon, France - 19/05/2021

15-years-old student and born islander Esteban stares at the windows on the desk of his bedroom in the boarding school of De Lattre de Tassigny. La Roche-sur-Yon, France - 19/05/2021

16-years-old student and born islander Mael (L) does her homework and shares her boarding bedroom with Jade 15 and Chloe 16 at the Savary de Mauléon high school. Les Sables d'Olonne, France - 30/09/2020

15-years-old student and born islander Esteban stares at the window above the resting room of the boarding school of De Lattre de Tassigny. The COVID-19 crisis and the mendatory use of wear of masks as well as social distancing for the students and their teachers whithin the high school were a barrier to socialize or even to regular meetings. La Roche-sur-Yon, France - 19/05/2021