The French non-profit making organisation, CHAM, was created in 1980. Its aim is to protect some of the many historical buildings suffering from neglect and which are in great need of conservation work.
It organises long-term and seasonal heritage conservation volunteer projects and youth and heritage training sessions in France (both metropolitan and overseas territories), as well as abroad. The organisation is officially recognised by the three French ministries responsible for youth, education and culture.
Over the twenty years of its existence CHAM has contributed to the restoration of more than fifty French historical sites – castles and forts, churches and abbeys, towers, ancient streets etc. These monuments are mainly 12^th to 16^th century, though some are from later periods. Most are listed French Historic Monuments and all are open to the public. CHAM operates on these sites at the request of those public authorities which own them. Each project is approved by the relevant state bodies dealing with heritage and youth. The organisation has won prizes from the French National Heritage Commission for volunteer conservation projects on twelve of these sites.