After 30 years in the field of contemporary art, the Colas Foundation has decided to shift its focus to major social issues. Inspired by the Colas Group's values of caring, sharing and daring, the Colas Foundation has changed its positioning by committing itself to supporting initiatives that promote the social and professional integration of children and young people through education, economic activity, sport and culture.
Using the Group's long-standing local networks to support projects at the community level, the Colas Foundation aims to take concrete action as close as possible to where the needs are felt. In collaboration with the Colas Foundation, the Colas Team Cup - an international sports and talent competition organized by the Colas Group for its 58,000 employees - supported local charities during the 3rd edition of the CTC World Finals in Marrakech, Morocco. This year, for the first time, a percentage of the registration fees for the event was donated to charity.
The Colas Team Cup teamed up with Apprentis d'Auteuil and their local partner, the Al Karam association, to support the Najah project (co-funded by the French Development Agency). The association helps young people living on the streets and in very unstable environments by giving them access to education, in particular vocational training courses in Marrakech. The Colas Foundation contributed just over €20,000 to the project, i.e., €5 per participant in the Colas Team Cup, as well as donating equipment. Children from the Al Karam association took part in the opening ceremony of the Colas Team Cup finals on March 15 and 16, and played a soccer game at the Marrakech International Stadium.
The Colas Team Cup also included three charity challenges under the Colas Foundation label. Colas employees around the world were able to participate and support partner associations working to promote the social and professional integration of children and young people.
The first charity challenge benefited Peace and Sport, an organization supported by Paula Radcliffe, world champion long-distance runner, Champion of Peace and Ambassador of the 3rd Colas Team Cup. The donations went to the Naandi Foundation in India, a member of the Peacemakers Project, which trains women to teach values through sport and enables 400 young Indian girls to play football, contributing to the inclusion and democratization of women's sport.
The second charity challenge supported Les Enfants du Mékong, which provides access to education for children from very poor families in Southeast Asia. The donation was used to help build a hairdressing training center for disadvantaged youth in Phuket, Thailand. The third and final challenge helped PLAY International and the Ejo 2 project in Côte d'Ivoire, which provides active, inclusive education to children in vulnerable situations, delivering prevention and awareness messages through sports.
"I am very proud that our Foundation has launched its first projects to support young people and help them integrate socially and professionally, because this is a very serious issue throughout the world. In the coming months, the Colas Foundation will be building new partnerships to provide concrete aid to children in need", said Frédéric Gardès, Chairman of the Colas Foundation.
The Colas Foundation is committed to equal opportunity and believes that everyone, from the earliest age, must be given the resources they need to grow, become independent and build their future.
