The Fondation d’Entreprise VINCI pour la Cité selects and supports initiatives that promote social inclusion through employment across France and fosters equal opportunities. It also encourages VINCI and VINCI Energies employee engagement.

Thanks to the Foundation’s representative in Lille, Alain Grisval, business unit manager at Citeos, had the opportunity to find out about the VINCI Foundation’s comprehensive work and to meet other staff members who, like him, were ready to dedicate time to charitable initiatives. So when the Foundation suggested he become an ambassador, he had no hesitation in accepting the role and in promoting the Foundation.

Alain is currently involved in several organisations, including Proxité for which he is a mentor. Set up in 2002, it helps young people from troubled areas to succeed academically, pursue their chosen path, and find sustainable employment. When his business moved into WAVE’s premises in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France, he felt it was an ideal location to welcome Proxité. Two employees from his business unit have been following young members of the organisation since the start of this initiative.

How do you try to communicate around your charity partnerships?

Alain: I attend meetings on Teams with the other Foundation ambassadors several times per year. As soon as I have information about a specific project or from someone initiating a request in an organisation, I act as a link with the Foundation in order to speed up the process.

What do you get out of the experience?

A.: As an ambassador, I see that what we do goes beyond financial support. Of course, organisations come to us to secure funding, but what the process does first and foremost is to create human relationships. The experience helps me to put things that happen to me in my personal and professional life into perspective. I also hope that my staff and colleagues’ lives are enhanced by these types of initiatives.

Are there any anecdotes you can share?

A.: A young person from Proxité was being mentored by a staff member from my business unit who had accepted a new position in Canada. During the handover phase, this employee made sure to encourage another colleague to continue supporting the young person who wanted to remain in the Proxité process. I found that really heart-warming from a personal point of view.

What project are you most proud of?

A.: That’s a hard question to answer! I would say the Proxité initiative and the fact that I was basically a small seed at the start of the project but that two years later the Foundation’s support is bearing fruit. As for the organisation’s members, well, their lives change. And as for my staff, seeing them involved in charitable actions and finding satisfaction in them is very rewarding!