We’re returning to France next week to work with more than a thousand new Business Management undergraduates.
ESSCA School of Management purposefully gives its youngest new students the opportunity of experiencing social impact firsthand at the start of their course – through a Splash Project – so they can see for themselves the impact they can have, as individuals and as a team.
They will build lasting relationships with their peers while building vital infrastructure for charities, beginning their academic lives inspired and motivated about how they can make a difference when they become the world’s future business leaders.
Over four days, a total of 28 Splash Projects facilitators will work with 1,654 students, all aged 17 and 18, across six campuses. This will be the fourth year we’ve facilitated projects over six sites in the same week with ESSCA.
Through their Splash Project, the students will have the chance to experience the practical and logistical challenges of project management; a key component of their five-year or three-year Business Management degree courses.
New for this year is a fourth day, ‘Go-karting with a Purpose’, whereby 540 students across all the sites will split up into teams of eight and will race to build a go-kart together, take it on a test run, and then dismantle their vehicle and recycle it, using the components to build garden items for the charities.
All our projects with business schools fulfil the learning objectives specified by the establishments, including:
- Building a learning environment and foster a sense of community
- Facilitating the step change to higher education
- Creating a link to the corporate world
- Engaging with global challenges and local impact
- Experiencing inclusion leadership
- Living the values of the business school
All of this while fulfilling at least one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals – SDG 1, 3, 4, 10 and 17 – and being fun!
Here is what they’ll be building…
Paris
Where:
Fondation Léopold Bellan: ESAT Montesson offers personalised and adapted support for individuals with mental disorders and intellectual disabilities to carry out full-time employment and develop their autonomy and independent living.
What:
477 students will build a growing garden with raised planters, fencing, seating and pergolas.
Aix-en-Provence
Where:
The Institut des Parons is a boarding or semi-boarding school for children and adolescents, aged between six and 20 years’ old with intellectual disabilities, with or without associated disorders, or with autism. The institute also runs a unit for up to 20 elderly people.
What:
125 students will build various planting areas, covered seating, a shed and compost bins to enhance the lives of the elderly patrons.
Angers
Where:
Part of the Handicap d’Anjou group, the FAM Les Trois Rivières provides permanent accommodation and support for 30 motor-impaired adults with Cerebral Palsy.
What:
430 students will build 32 brise soleil pergolas for the residents’ apartments and two communal pergolas.
Bordeaux
Where:
IME de Pessac Alouette is a specialised educational centre for children, adolescents and young adults aged between six and 20 years’ old.
What:
175 students will develop the centre’s garden space and create shaded seating in other areas of the grounds.
Strasbourg
Where:
IME Eurometropole (ARSEA) Site Roethig supports children with autism to retain autonomy and independent living.
What:
52 students will build an outdoor pergola with an integrated sand play area and storage units.
Lyon
Where:
ALGED – ESAT Hélène Rivet supports 154 people with learning disabilities to help them gain self-respect and self-esteem in full time employment.
What:
395 students will build shaded seating on the first-floor terrace and an all-weather shelter in front of the building.
