APARE was set up in 1979 by a group of people who shared a passion for Provence and dry stone architecture. It made a name for itself after conducting an inventory of the dry stone constructions in the Lure mountain and the Vaucluse and Luberon mountains. The inventories are technical and scientific tools which have not only triggered people's memory of these lost structures but also provided the basis for proposals to restore this rural architecture.
APARE organized its first youth workcamp in 1981 to restore the "Jas du Palhier", a sheepfold in Jean Giono country (04). Work and good humour were the order of the day.
This operation to protect a heritage site quickly generated interest and our projects became a focal point for local people, regional organizations and institutional partners. With support from the PACA region and the different ministries (youth and sport, culture and the environment), a contract for a State/region plan led to the regional development of the international voluntary workcamps. This continues and 20 sites have been organized on average every year for the last 20 years.
The specificity of the work—which involves the use of stone and lime—means that communities hosting youth workcamps can programme the restoration of their heritage (chapel, castle, washhouse, mill, oratory, etc.).

La Communauté Européenne s’est très vite intéressée à ce réseau international de ces jeunes citoyens actifs et l’APARE a pu proposer à partir des années 90, à la Direction Générale des Affaires Culturelles Européennes, la mise en place des Campus Européens du Patrimoine et de l’Environnement. Ce programme mis en place pour des étudiants européens concerne la valorisation du patrimoine et de l’environnement européen et le développement des politiques culturelles locales des territoires européens. Complémentaires aux chantiers de jeunes, ces campus abordent des thématiques spécifiques in situe. Compte tenu de l’impact local et du besoin de subsidiarité des actions des campus, le Groupement Européen des Campus (GEC) s’est structuré autour d’une ONG indépendante et qui permet dorénavant de pérenniser ce grand réseau international.

The European Community was quick to show an interest in this international network of active young citizens. In the 1990s APARE proposed to the General Directorate for European Cultural Affairs that it would set up the European Campuses for heritage and the environment. This programme is aimed at European students and involves the development of Europe's heritage and environment and the development of local cultural policies in European regions. These campuses complement the youth workcamps and cover specific topics in situ. Given the local impact and the need for subsidiarity with regard to the campuses' action, the European Group of Campuses (GEC) was structured around an independent NGO which means that this large international network can continue.

The "dry stone" theme is dear to APARE as well as being the basis for the future economic pole for dry stone in Beaucet, which is the "mineral" commune of the Vaucluse. The identity of dry stone will bring together all the stakeholders who share a passion for dry stone architecture. Standardization, labelling, technical professional training and communication will be the spearheads of this group without frontiers.

For the past few years, APARE has been involved in trying to bring together the Mediterranean's different coasts by organizing interdisciplinary programmes with Mediterranean countries: youth workcamps and training with North Africa, design and monitoring of the programme "women and sustainable development", etc.

APARE's action continues to evolve and will progress with all the stakeholders who would like to join and participate in our common search for sustainable development.