🤍 Giving back

Greatly influenced by my catholic grand-mother who's life revolved around giving back to the community, I wanted to share with you some associations and foundations I believe could greatly benefit from a little help.

Here are my picks of associations to whom I have given in the past or continue to give to.

Fondation l'Elan Retrouvé

Founded in 1948, the Fondation l'Elan Retrouvé is a French non-profit organization that provides support, care, and housing to over 8,600 children, adolescents, and adults suffering from mental health issues, addiction, or autism spectrum disorders.

• Mission: Help people regain their footing in life ("élan retrouvé" means "rediscovered momentum") by providing personalized support and care.
• Services: They offer a wide range of services, including:
  • Mental health care: consultations, therapy, and psychiatric treatment
  • Addiction treatment: detoxification, rehabilitation, and support groups
  • Autism support: specialized care and education for individuals with autism
  • Housing: residential facilities and supported living arrangements
  • Social and educational activities: workshops, outings, and cultural events
• Locations: They have facilities in the Île-de-France region (including Paris) and Indre-et-Loire.

I am actively engaged in this organization as I believe providing young adults with a helping hand in times when everything seems to crumble is necessary for a society to grow in a prosperous way.

You can give to the Elan Retrouvé Foundation here 🤍

UNICEF

Founded in 1946, UNICEF (United Nations Children's Emergency Fund) is a leading global humanitarian and development organization dedicated to children's rights.

• Mission: Advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.
• Services: UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to provide:
  • Health care: immunization, nutrition, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, maternal and newborn health
  • Education: access to quality education, early childhood development
  • Child protection: protection from violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect
  • Social inclusion: support for children with disabilities, and those from marginalized communities
  • Emergency relief: life-saving assistance during humanitarian crises

This association holds dear to my heart as my grand-mother, who was deeply scared by WWII, vowed to become a pediatrician and help children in Africa if she hadn't met my grand-father.

You can give to UNICEF here 🤍

Association Petits Princes

Founded in 1987, Association Petits Princes is a French non-profit organization that fulfills the dreams of children and adolescents with serious illnesses like cancer, leukemia, and certain genetic diseases.

• Mission: To bring joy and hope to seriously ill children by realizing their dreams, helping them escape the difficulties of their illnesses, and giving them the strength to fight.
• Services: They fulfill a wide variety of dreams, including:
  • Meeting celebrities: sports stars, singers, actors
  • Trips and adventures: visiting Disneyland, going on safari, meeting dolphins
  • Participating in special events: attending a concert, sporting event, or TV show
  • Receiving gifts: toys, games, computers

You can give to the Assocation Petits Princes here 🤍

SNSM

The Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer is an association dating back to 1825. It is a French non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives at sea.

Here's a quick overview:

• Mission: To provide 24/7 search and rescue services along the French coastline, as well as preventing accidents and promoting maritime safety.
• Services: They offer a wide range of services, including:
  • Sea rescue: responding to distress calls, conducting search and rescue operations, providing medical assistance at sea
  • Lifeguarding: patrolling beaches and providing first aid
  • Maritime safety: educating the public about safe boating practices, conducting safety inspections of vessels
  • Pollution response: assisting in the cleanup of oil spills and other maritime pollution incidents

This association is important to me as my great-great-grand-father was a coastguard at the SHN (Société Humaine et des Naufrages) in Boulogne-sur-Mer in France and was lost at sea with my great grand-father during a storm in 1892. My personal hobbies also include sailing so donating to this organization also contributes to giving sea farers the opportunity to accomplish their travels.

You can give to the SNSM here 🤍