The SUEZ Foundation in China
“Colors of China” Association
Since 2003, the SUEZ Foundation for children in difficulty has supported “Colors of China.” This association’s main objective is to provide all school-aged children, and particularly young, usually uneducated, girls living in the area of the Great Miao mountains of Guangxi, with access to elementary school education for six years. The program also enables the most gifted children to continue their education in high schools and other secondary schools.
The program’s long-term objective is to allow the residents of this region to develop their own economic resources and to enhance the position of women in society.
The activities of “Colors of China” have earned the recognition and support of local education authorities who have shown their gratitude for SUEZ assistance in educating children of minority communities in mountainous, remote and depressed regions.
“Colors of China,” created in 1990 by Françoise Grenot-Wang, a sinologist, now finances the education of 2,300 children, making it the leading French association promoting children’s education in China.
In 2003, SUEZ Foundation was asked to finance construction of a dormitory for girls at the secondary school in the district of Danian, in the north of Guangxi. In 2004, it became apparent that the dormitory’s capacity would be insufficient for future needs due to the growing number of children being educated in the district. An extension to the building is now under way, thanks to additional SUEZ Foundation assistance. In 2006/2007, with the Air France Employees’ Foundation, the Foundation co-financed the construction of a multi-purpose building for the Fulu District primary school.
Handicap International
In early 2005, SUEZ Foundation formed a partnership with “Handicap International Belgium “ to assist disabled children in Chinese orphanages.
During a first phase, the Foundation financed the creation of eight centers to provide apprenticeship programs for caregivers working in Chongqing area orphanages.
Orphanage personnel, who hold general education teachers’ credentials, normally receive no specialized instruction. The purpose of the project is to improve care for disabled orphans by developing a basic training program for caregivers focused on the care of children with disabilities. The centers have been designed to serve as pilot projects. In 2007, a procedure for training orphanage caregivers was developed and a nationwide special caregiver certification system was instituted.
"The Little Dragons of Wulong"
"Little Dragons of Wulong" is a non-profit organization serving the Wulong district of Chongqing, Sichuan Province. Its mission is to support the schooling of the children of poor peasants from the Wulong district, to provide them proper nourishment, and help them learn a trade.
In 2006, SUEZ Foundation contributed to the creation of libraries in two grammar schools, and assisted in organizing school lunch programs for those schools' neediest children.
