Institut Télémaque: Empower every underprivileged teenager

THE CHALLENGE

The French school system has become the most unequal system of the EU. Only 7% of the students from disadvantaged background obtain their master’s degree compared to 30% of the children from a well-to-do background. Since 2002, the weight of social origin on the performance of 15-year-olds has increased by 33% (source:OECD 2018).

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The project aims to support highly motivated middle and high school students and apprentices from modest backgrounds and encourage them to achieve their full potential through 4 dimensions : socio cultural immersion, school performance, discovery of the professional sector, self-confidence.
Each child receives bespoke long-term support (6 years) in the form of a double mentoring program that allows the beneficiaries to be supported by a corporate tutor and an academic tutor within the school system, both working as volunteers. The goal is to discuss and support schooling ambitions, academic and professional aspirations and broaden horizons. The trio access financial support so they can organize joint activities and carry out discovery projects together. Additional programs aim to address specific needs of the pupils in order to help them achieve their full potential, and work to fight the lack of opportunity of students from underprivileged backgrounds. The online platform, monavenirengrand.com is open to any young person.

The BIC Corporate Foundation supports Télémaque through Epic. Epic fights against the inequalities that affect young people from underprivileged backgrounds by selecting, evaluating and supporting social organizations with a strong social impact. Epic has a portfolio of 26 associations in 11 countries around the world, including Télémaque.