Days for Good 2022
During this first edition, Days for Good brought together more than 1,300 employees in 15 countries for the benefit of 25 associations. For example, in Suresnes (Bel’s head office), 243 employees got involved with 13 associations based in the Ile-de-France region.
Discover below the associations supported by the Bel Foundation in France and abroad as part of Days for Good 2022.
Afood Arc en ciel
The Afood arc en ciel association helps host families and people in difficult situations. Their activities include
- food distribution
- integration of people in precarious situations, particularly those living in shelters
- socio-cultural activities promoting diversity
During the Days for Good, employees took part in a day-long cookery workshop with mothers from a shelter in the 19th arrondissement of Paris.
In addition, as part of this week of solidarity, the association received a grant to develop nutrition workshops based on cultural diversity.
Mamama
The MaMaMa association is specialised in delivering food parcels and essential hygiene products to single mothers and their children.
As part of the Days for Good initiative, employees spent a day at the charity’s offices sorting the food and toys they had received through donations and also made hygiene kits for the women and babies welcomed by the charity.
In addition, as part of this week of solidarity, the association received a donation, which enabled the creation and launch of a “baby food factory” using local and organic vegetables.
50,000 infants in Val-d’Oise (95) benefited from this project.
Did you know ?
This association has been supported by the Bel Foundation since 2021. Thanks to the commitment of Bel employees, the association has benefited from financial support from the Foundation, enabling it to develop materials to raise awareness of infant nutrition, targeting mothers.
ANDES
ANDES is one of the major players in food aid in France, with over 500 solidarity grocery shops helping 200,000 people a year. Their objectives? To give low-income families the means to have access to good-quality and diversified food, to fight against food waste and to support people who are a long way from employment.
As part of Days for Good, Bel employees spent a day helping to collect, sort, welcome and sell products to families benefiting from the ANDES network. They also helped to organise stocks at the ANDES centre in the 19th arrondissement of Paris.
In addition, as part of this week of solidarity, the association received a grant to develop a software programme to facilitate exchanges within the ANDES network of solidarity grocery shops.
Did you know ?
The Bel Foundation has supported ANDES, with the creation of 5 solidarity grocery shops and the development of educational farm visits in 2021. ANDES is also one of the associations benefiting from the salary rounding for Bel group employee donors.
Les enfants cuisinent
The main aim of the association Les enfants cuisinent is to prevent and fight childhood obesity and any other illnesses linked to children’s diets. The association offers workshops in schools and other establishments catering for children, to promote good eating habits and values among the very young.
As part of Days for Good, employees were given the opportunity to prepare pastries with the help of 2 chefs from the Les Recettes Nomades association and some children from the Les Enfants Cuisinent association. At the end of the afternoon, these pastries provided a real opportunity for the associations, the children, the employees and some isolated elderly people, accompanied by les Petits Frères des Pauvres association, to share.
In addition, as part of this week of solidarity, the association received a donation that enabled it to run a series of cookery workshops. 1,800 schoolchildren in the Occitanie region benefited from this project.
Biocycle
The Biocycle association fights against food waste and food insecurity. Their main missions?
- collect and redistribute unsold food from food professionals
- raise public awareness of anti-waste through fun activities
- support professionals in their zero-waste practices
During the Days for Good, employees spent an afternoon helping to prepare and distribute smoothies in an emergency accommodation centre in the 13th arrondissement of Paris.
The Bel Foundation has also provided support to Biocycle in 2022 to finance the purchase of three-wheeled bicycles and the organisation of awareness-raising events at 13 secondary schools in Ivry.
Restos du coeur
Founded by Coluche in 1985, Restos du Cœur is an association whose aim is to help and provide voluntary assistance to the underprivileged, particularly in the area of food, through access to free meals, and by participating in their social and economic integration, as well as in any action against poverty in all its forms.
For an afternoon, as part of Days for Good, employees were able to help create and run a mini-workshop offering a “balanced plate” at the Restos du Cœur branch in the 92 district.
In addition, as part of this week of solidarity, the association received a donation, which enabled the development of cooking workshops over the course of a year. 150 children in Hauts-de-Seine (92) benefited from this project.
Did you know ?
This association is supported by the Bel Group. At plant level, products are regularly donated to local Restos du Cœur branches. In addition, the Bel Foundation has organised several food collections, with the food donated to Restos du Cœur.
Grandir en Société
The Grandir en société association has been in existence for over 25 years, and its mission is to enable children with Down’s syndrome to attend mainstream schools. The association fights for inclusion and against discrimination linked to mental/cognitive disability.
What are they doing? To train childcare staff in early childhood facilities and give talks in schools and companies on the theme of “Yes, it’s possible”.
As part of Days for Good, employees spent an afternoon working in pairs with young people aged 16 to 25 with cognitive or mental disabilities, taking part in and leading a “taste the difference” game: discovering new ways of using vegetables, rediscovering their tastes and textures…
In addition, as part of this week of solidarity, the association received a donation that enabled it to set up workshops on nutrition and independence. 15 mentally handicapped young people in the 92 region benefited from this project.
La tablée des chefs
La Tablée des Chefs is the association of committed chefs. Since 2013 in France, it has been working in 2 areas: feeding and educating. Its mission is to feed families in need by fighting food waste and food insecurity, and to develop culinary education for future generations by helping them to become self-sufficient in food. La Tablée des Chefs exists in Canada (2002), France and Mexico (2013).
As part of the Days for Good event, with the help of a chef, employees were able to prepare a starter and a main course over the course of an afternoon, which were then distributed during a night-time food drive in partnership with the Amitiés Villette solidarity grocery shop, in which some employees took part.
In addition, as part of this week of solidarity, the association received a donation that enabled it to organise the national final of the Culinary Brigades. 56 schoolchildren from REP (Priority education network) (Paris 19th arrondissement) benefited from this project.
Did you know ?
This association has been a partner of the Bel Foundation since 2019. The association has benefited from financial support from the Foundation, enabling it to offer culinary workshops in REP secondary schools in France. Over the past few years, employees in Suresnes have also been working alongside the association to cook as many portions as possible for the benefit of associations in the 92 region, via culinary solidarity challenges.
Find out about the experience of Julia Colin, Director of La Tablée des Chefs France, here.
Fondation apprentis d’Auteuil
The Fondation d’Apprentis d’Auteuil is committed to equal opportunities and fighting early school leaving. Their ambition is to give everyone every opportunity and the means to influence their own lives.
As part of Days for Good, employees spent a morning helping to maintain the Priory’s green spaces with a number of young people undergoing horticultural apprenticeships at the Fondation Apprentis d’Auteuil.
In addition, as part of this week of solidarity, the association received a donation to finance the organic and local school restaurant run by the Fondation Apprentis d’Auteuil.
655 young people in Hauts-de-Seine (92) have benefited from this project.
Fondation La Vie au Grand Air
A national actor in child protection since 1927, the Fondation La Vie au Grand Air I Priorité Enfance receives, protects and supports children, teenagers and their families in distress on a daily basis. Their mission is to give them the tools and guidance they need to overcome their difficulties.
As part of this week of solidarity, the association received a donation that enabled it to organise nutrition and composting workshops. This project benefited 33 young people placed in social care in the Loiret region (45).
Bergeries en Ville
Bergeries en ville is a not-for-profit association set up by professionals in the children’s and cultural sectors. Convinced that people need to be made aware of the environment from an early age, the association has developed projects aimed at giving nature back a central place in our towns and cities.
During the Days for Good, employees spent a day helping to build aviaries and plant containers with children from a leisure centre in Nanterre. These facilities will be used during the centre’s educational workshops.
In addition, as part of this week of solidarity, the association received a donation, which enabled the creation of a natural experimentation area to reconnect with nature and develop motor skills.
360 schoolchildren in Hauts-de-Seine (92) benefited from this project.
Les Ciboulettes
The mission of the Les Ciboulettes association is to create opportunities to experiment with ecological practices, to learn how to take care of ourselves, others and the planet while having fun.
It caters for all kinds of people, and in particular offers parent-child workshops.
As part of Days for Good, employees spent a morning helping the charity to develop its “Let’s treat the planet” plant-based cookery workshop, designed to raise parents’ and children’s awareness of the impact of food on our carbon footprint. The dishes prepared were then distributed the next day to a nearby food aid association.
In addition, as part of this week of solidarity, the association received a donation to develop an awareness-raising workshop on plant-based cooking and the environment. 108 children and their parents in Seine et Marne (77) benefited from this project.
Happy Culteur
The Happy Culteur association’s mission is to raise public awareness of the disappearance of bees and work to save them. It is offering introductory beekeeping workshops on the rooftops of Paris. The aim? To raise awareness right in the hive!
During the Days for Good, employees were given the opportunity to set up a greenhouse at the heart of an arts centre. During this day of voluntary work, they also took part in supervising and running an awareness-raising workshop on pollinators for a group of young children with disabilities.
In addition, as part of this week of solidarity, the association received a donation, which enabled it to create a “Pollinator Protection Awareness Course” workshop.
150 children in Bagnolet have benefited from this project.
Linkee
Since 2016, the Linkee association has been helping the most disadvantaged by combating food waste. Thanks to more than 190 associations and over 200 partners in the food sector and voluntary sector, it is making the fight against food waste an anti-poverty solution!
During the Days for Good, employees took part in a day-long anti-gaspi workshop in one of the company’s kitchens. Using fruit and vegetables that had been destined for destruction but recovered by the association, employees cooked raw vegetable and fruit salads. The trays were then distributed to associations for people in very precarious situations (Aurore, Coallia, Buncoeur Damoclès).
In addition, as part of this week of solidarity, the association received a donation to support the “sustainable breakfasts” project. 150 disadvantaged children in the 20th arrondissement of Paris benefited from this project.
ÇA ME REGARDE
The ÇA ME REGARDE association is the 1st social solidarity network that facilitates sustainable integration.
Their conviction? Openness to others is a source of innovation, self-knowledge and collective progress. The association is committed to reducing school drop-out rates and promoting sustainable integration.
During the Days for Good, employees spent a morning taking part in a coaching workshop with young people on the path to integration. This scheme helps young people without qualifications or a job to find work, based on a three-pronged approach based on skills acquisition, work experience and support for inclusion and citizenship.
Feedback from Florence Petrachi, Group Platform Manager Core & Accessibility for The Laughing Cow :
“The Days for Good were a very rewarding experience for colleagues: working together for a good cause, getting out of your comfort zone and meeting people who are committed to the cause on a daily basis. It’s an adventure I can’t wait to repeat next year.”
Internationally
Some fifteen Bel countries volunteered to take part in Days for Good, proposing initiatives to get employees involved with local charities.
Among these associations, the Foundation has supported :
- Foodbank (Australia)
- Parent Association at Secondary Vocational School of Trade and Services (Slovakia)
- Red Noses Clown Doctors International (Czech Republic)
- Save the Children (South Korea)
- Second Harvest Japan (Japan)
- The Path of Sky angles (Iran)
- Základná škola a Gymnázium T.Ševčenka (Slovakia)
