Colas : Foundation supports two international partners, Enfants du Mekong and IECD

Paris, June 17, 2024

Colas Foundation supports two international

partners, Enfants du Mékong and IECD

Already a partner of the Rêv'Elles association and the Apprentis d'Auteuil Foundation, Colas Foundation is extending its support for the social and professional integration of young people by backing two international partners, the Enfants du Mékong association and the IECD (Institut Européen de Coopération et de Développement) for one year.

Support for the "Enfants du Mékong" association, which helps young people from ethnic minorities in South-East Asia to integrate into society

Enfants du Mékong, a French sponsorship association, has been working since 1958 to provide schooling for the most disadvantaged children in South-East Asia. Its action is based on three essential pillars: guidance, through a customized program; training, to enable young people to go on to university; and integration, by supporting them in their first job search.

In this spirit, Colas Foundation is committed to supporting integration programs in three countries: Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand. A total of 5,083 young people will be supported, including 4,350 students in Vietnam, 663 in the Philippines and 70 in Thailand.

As part of this partnership, Colas employees will be involved in patronage initiatives and will take part in career guidance and integration forums organized by the association in the three countries concerned. They will share their experience to help students identify their own talents, help them prepare for job interviews and offer them the opportunity to visit their offices or work sites.

By making a financial contribution of 100,000 Euros, Colas Foundation will contribute to encouraging young people to become responsible and independent adults.

A partnership with IECD to promote the integration of young people into the energy, industry and construction trades

At the same time, Colas Foundation is working with the IECD, which aims to promote the integration of young people aged 15 to 30 in the energy, industry and construction sectors, by strengthening local players.

Colas Foundation will be providing 100,000 Euros to support Morocco and Egypt through the "Graines d'Espérance" program, which aims to improve the quality of teaching in these technical fields. In 2024, 155 young people in the Al Haouz region of Morocco will receive training in the installation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic systems. In Cairo, Egypt, 1,500 people, 34% of them women, will be trained in electrical maintenance and industrial automation.

By getting involved in this patronage project, our employees will be helping young people to acquire the technical and human skills they need to find a quality job.

With an international presence, Colas is committed to promoting equal opportunities and the integration of young people throughout the world. By supporting these two new international partnerships, the Colas Foundation is reaffirming its commitment to helping young people develop their skills and guiding them towards a promising future, says Pierre Vanstoflegatte, Chairman of the Colas Foundation. 

After supporting the contemporary art world for some 30 years, the Colas Foundation has decided to shift its focus to important societal issues and to act in favor of education, as well as social and professional integration, universal themes that are deeply rooted in Colas' DNA.

Colas (www.colas.com)

Colas, a subsidiary of the Bouygues Group, has one mission: to imagine, build and maintain sustainable transport infrastructure. Backed by a network of 1,000 construction business units and 3,000 material production units in more than 50 countries on five continents, the Group's 65,000 employees act locally to connect communities and foster exchanges for today and tomorrow. Colas' ambition is to be the world leader in innovative, sustainable mobility solutions.

In 2023, consolidated revenue at Colas totaled €16 billion (60% outside of France).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Fabienne BOULOC Tel.: [phone]	Charlotte DENIS Tel. : [phone]
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