The Omnes Foundation for the younger generations
Omnes’ approach as a responsible investor is reflected in the actions of its Foundation. Housed in the philanthropy hub of the Fondation de France, the Foundation was set up in 2016 with the mission of supporting organizations that help children and young people. Omnes currently supports five organisations active in health, education and social-professional integration, namely: Baskets Aux Pieds, Cours Frédéric-Ozanam, Enquête, 1001mots and ViensVoirMonTaf. The Foundation not only provides financial support, but also offers consulting to the associations’ founders over the course of one or more years. The Omnes Foundation’s goal is to support up-and-coming non-profits by helping them develop and scale.
Viens Voir Mon Taf at Omnes
In 2023, thanks to ViensVoirMonTaf, Omnes hosted two young interns for a one-week period, enabling them to learn about the investment space. ViensVoirMonTaf oraganizes high-quality internships for 15 to 16 year-old high-school students who do not have their own network. The organization helps students from Priority Education Networks in France (REP/REP+ priority districts under municipal policy) to access internships in their areas of interest.
The program was set up by journalists Mélanie Taravant and Virginie Salmen and aims to have a positive impact on the future careers of the students. It’s also a great way to provide an enriching experience in the workplace for the members of the teams. Thanks to the Omnes Foundation’s donation, ViensVoirMonTaf has been able to support a growing number of disadvantaged students. Since its inception in 2015, ViensVoirMonTaf has worked with over 24,000 students.
“The Omnes Foundation is a longstanding supporter of ViensVoirMonTaf. Omnes’ faithful ongoing support has enabled us to grow and develop more smoothly since 2016. We’re proud and delighted to be able to count on Omnes!”
Cours Ozanam: A Holistic approach to education for children in Marseille
Cours Ozanam is one of the key initiatives supported by the Omnes. This independent, non-denominational school welcomes pupils from the neighborhoods of Saint-Just and Malpassé-Corot in Marseille’s 13th arrondissement. The school, founded through the Ambition-Cité charitable association, offers reduced admission fees to families in these neighborhoods, ensuring access to high-quality education for these children.
“The Omnes Foundation is focused on providing long-term support for Cours Ozanam and recognizes the importance of investing in education and systemic change!”
Cours Ozanam implements a holistic approach to education, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between parents, teachers, and community partners. The school’s pupils have diverse cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, and each child’s unique potential is recognized and valued. The school’s teaching methods are personalized and thorough with small class sizes, individualized teaching, and a focus on cognitive and emotional development. One of the most important aspects at Cours Ozanam is the creation of a supportive and collaborative atmosphere which empowers each child to “become who they truly are”. The school’s activities extend beyond the classroom, involving parents in extracurricular activities and workshops which are designed to encourage strong familial bonds and improve parenting skills.
Through this unique model, not only does the school support the academic achievement of its pupils, it also contributes to the overall well-being and personal growth of each child. Inspired by the US charter school model, Cours Ozanam has an ambitious aim: to engage and nurture a generation of passionate and competent education professionals and to drive the wide-spread development of dynamic and cohesive schools.
First published in Scope Spring 2024