Nominee for Socially Responsible Organization of the Year: INSTITUT TELEMAQUE, GAELLE SIMON (GE 2000), Déléguée Générale

Institut Télémaque is a not-for-profit association set up in 2005 in partnership with France’s Ministry of Education and chaired by Henri Lachmann, the former chairman of Schneider Electric. The association seeks to foster social mobility by providing assistance up to baccalaureate level to outstanding and motivated young persons originating from disadvantaged environments.  As part of the Télémaque project, the  young person receives support from an educational mentor (a member of the school) and a corporate tutor (a voluntary employee from one of the association’s corporate partners). Both roles involve broadening the young person’s horizons (“social mobility facilitators”) and assisting in the choices regarding his/her future career. 



The Institut Télémaque in figures: 

- 500 young people assisted since the association’s creation 
- 31 corporate partners : 1000 MERCIS, ADECCO, FONDATION APRIL, AXA, BIOMERIEUX,  BNP PARIBAS, CAISSE DES DEPOTS, CANAL +, CEA GRENOBLE, DARTY, EDF, FONDATION FDJ, FONDATION HSBC POUR L’EDUCATION, GDF SUEZ, KERING, LA POSTE, MAZARS, MOBILIS,  NEXITY, REXEL, SANOFI, SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, GROUPE SEB, SFR, SNCF, SOLVAY, TECHNIP, TOTAL, UBS, VEOLIA, ZARA
- 1,000 employees and educational mentors have committed to the programme since inception 
- 3 sites: Ile-de-France, Rhône-Alpes and Nord Pas de Calais
- Around 100 schools in 3 regions 
- A team of 10 supported by 3 top business leaders: Henri Lachmann, National President (former Chairman of  Schneider Electric), Thierry Mulliez, President Télémaque Nord Pas de Calais (President of the Association Familiale Mulliez), Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, President Télémaque Rhône-Alpes (Chairman of Groupe SEB)
Gaelle has been involved in the association since 2006, first as a project manager then as an Executive Director since 2008. The association has grown substantially since its creation. After gaining  four years of experience with Renault as a project manager for the company’s trade shows in France and abroad, Gaëlle switched to the non-profit sector and joined the Institut Télémaque in its early days (when only 10 young people were receiving assistance and there was only 1 corporate partner). 8 years later, the project is an undoubted success: over 500 young people have been assisted through support from more than 30 companies (around 20 of which from the CAC 40) and from more than 1,000 employees and educational mentors! Underpinned by the success achieved in the Ile-de-France region, two more centres have been created in the Rhône-Alpes and Nord Pas de Calais regions. The association has become much more professional since its inception, whether in terms of events, digital communication, the use of assessment tools or the multiplication of partnerships with cultural and not-for-profit bodies, etc.). 
"Institut Télémaque is a project that works, as witnessed by our outstanding baccalaureate results (97% success rate including 79% of “good” passes). It is highly rewarding to witness the success of these young people who possess the ability and the talent, but who lack an environment conducive to their success and who frequently self-censor" adds Gaëlle, who continues to contribute to the project with the same enthusiasm and determination shown over the last eight years.

Find out about Institut Télémaque in vidéo
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