France: Improving access to quality education for disadvantaged children
Providing a supportive and enriching learning environment for primary school pupils
In France, children growing up in priority urban areas often face significant barriers to accessing quality education. To address these challenges, we support an initiative in the Argenteuil region offering a tailored learning environment for primary school pupils from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.
The school operates independently and offers small class sizes, personalised teaching, and close engagement with families, creating favourable conditions for academic success and personal development. Each year, our support enables one class to benefit from this approach.
Our contribution reinforces an educational model designed to meet students’ specific needs. Through individualised attention, innovative teaching methods, and a strong emphasis on respect, pupils are able to progress at their own pace. This approach has demonstrated strong academic outcomes, with students consistently reaching high levels of achievement compared to national benchmarks.
Supporting academic success and broadening horizons
Since 2025, the Givaudan Foundation has supported one primary school class over a semester. This has contributed to excellent academic results, with 94% of students progressing to the next grade level in the first year of our support.
Beyond core subjects such as French and mathematics, the programme also develops key competencies including reading, oral expression, general knowledge, and social skills.
The initiative also enables students to take part in extracurricular activities such as cultural visits, nature outings, and hands-on workshops. These experiences broaden their horizons and provide access to opportunities they might not otherwise encounter.
Close collaboration with families is a central component of the programme, with parents actively participating in school life and supporting their children’s educational development.
Givaudan volunteers also play an important role, regularly leading interactive workshops and organising visits to the company site. These activities, particularly those focused on sensory and olfactory experiences, are highly appreciated by students.
Find out more about our livelihood projects in communities where Givaudan employees work:
