Three questions for Brigitte Audy, Secretary General of the Orange Foundation.
What is the Orange Foundation currently doing to help young people who are excluded from the digital world?
We all need to be connected. Young people who are not proficient in the use of digital technology may find it more difficult to find a job, regardless of the type of position they are pursuing. The Orange Foundation is involved in multiple digital education programmes for the purposes of helping these young people to integrate socially and professionally throughout France.
Who is affected? In which regions?
All young people who are having difficulties, all over the country:
for example, schoolchildren who are experiencing learning difficulties with traditional methods use tablets as a means of catching up. The Foundation provides equipment to educational support associations which assist these children and offer access to free educational content, such as the Khan Academy.
We also help young adults to integrate: they are able to develop themselves professionally through new sources that offer access assistance and allow them to gain practical experience of the digital world - our " solidarity FabLabs ". We also support over 50 projects by the National Council of Local Missions (Conseil National des Missions Locales or CNML) all over France. The focus of these projects is on helping young people who are often isolated to perfect their digital skills, supporting them in preparing for these new jobs and for employment in general.
What are the methods used by the Foundation?
The Foundation selects and funds projects proposed by various associations: equipment, educational content such as MOOCs and new ways of learning.
The digital experts who volunteer from among our staff also support the work of these associations on the ground.
The digital world should present an opportunity for young people - for all young people.
