In 2018, we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Schneider Electric Foundation, which operates under the aegis of Fondation de France, and uses innovation and community engagement to reduce the energy gap and increase sustainability awareness.
Investing in education
The foundation focuses on emerging countries, helping people develop skills in energy and entrepreneurship. At the end of 2017, a total of 148,145 people had benefited from training programs since 2009.
Reducing the energy gap
In more mature economies such as in Europe and North America, the foundation supports families who suffer from fuel poverty — those who cannot pay their energy bills and/or benefit from the right level of comfort they deserve.
Increasing sustainability awareness
The foundation promotes innovative solutions that mix social entrepreneurship, art, and creativity. This ensures that — while the foundation works to bring energy to those in need — it also works to build a sustainable world for everyone.
Schneider Electric Foundation by the numbers
€13.4 million
financial and in-kind contributions by Schneider Electric employees and entities
€4 million
intervention budget
130
delegates
in 80 countries
1,347
Schneider Electric Teachers
missions carried out over the past 5 years
35,000
contributors
1,900 volunteers
840
partners
since the creation of the foundation
2017 Schneider Electric Foundation highlights
Investing €2 million for training underprivileged youths
True innovation extends opportunity to those less fortunate, and so we endeavor to use innovation as a way to lift up and empower the next generation, especially the underprivileged. To that end, the Schneider Foundation signed a partnership with the General Council of the Salesian Congregation, investing €2 million. This initiative will first fund five renewable energy and sustainable development projects selected from proposals made by numerous Salesian technical and professional schools worldwide.
The goal is to help provide young, unprivileged people with opportunities while promoting a sustainable way of life:
- In Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the ITIG Professional Training Center's projects will provide theoretical and practical training to students from poor families.
- In Pinguli, Kudal in India, electrical lab tools will be upgraded at the local vocational center.
- In Haiti, training will be set up for teachers, new laboratory and student equipment will be purchased, and a new electricity generation system will be created.
- In Maputo, Mozambique, the student and teacher training program will be updated in the field of energy.
- In Sicily, Innovation 4.0 classes will be launched in electricity, electronics, and renewable energy.
Social innovation to tackle fuel poverty
In June 2017, the Schneider Electric Foundation — under the aegis of Foundation de France — and Ashoka, launched a new call for projects in the Social Innovation to Tackle Fuel Poverty program. In partnership with Enel, the goal was to find the 15 most innovative organizations that offer creative solutions to tackle fuel poverty and promote energy sustainability in Europe. The winners were announced during the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP23) in November 2017.
Social Entrepreneurship
Winning innovations were announced at COP23.
We share the value of a new world for electricity where people are empowered … the projects we are developing with Schneider and Ashoka today go in the same direction.
A symbol for solutions
Launched in 2015 by Art of Change 21, Maskbook is an international art project. Through exhibitions, workshops, and more, Maskbook raises awareness on the increasingly high stakes of air pollution and climate change. Through Maskbook, the dust mask, a symbol for pollution, is transformed into a symbol for solutions. Maskbook has thousands of participants from more than 40 countries.
The Schneider Electric Foundation is Maskbook’s main partner. Since 2016, the U.N. Environment and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition have been institutional partners as well.
Art in Action
Maskbook fights climate change through creativity.
Creative Klima at COP23
Another initiative by Art of Change 21, Creative Klima offers exhibitions, conferences, workshops, debates, award ceremonies, musical programming, and numerous festivities — they provided inspiration for action in the fight against climate change at COP23.
Partners included the Schneider Electric Foundation, the Association Art of Change 21, the international NGO Ashoka, the Institut français Bonn, Atelier 21 with its initiatives Paléo-Energétique and Solar Sound System, and the International Weather and Climate Forum.
Natural disaster relief
In 2017, many people across the world were affected by natural disasters and we were compelled to help as much as possible. This included the deployment of teams and technology to support the people impacted by the earthquake in Mexico and by hurricanes Harvey, Maria, and Irma in the U.S., Caribbean, and Costa Rica.
Our total contribution included $1 million, plus 150 emergency tents, and 4,000 solar lamps distributed in collaboration with La Cruz Roja Mexicana, SOS Attitude, and Electriciens sans frontières.
I just hope to have given as much as I received during this mission! We are a special company because of our people and initiatives like Schneider Electric Teachers. I am very proud to be part of it.
Schneider Electric Teachers
With the Schneider Electric Teachers NGO, employees can volunteer to train others. They become the link between the company, the Schneider Electric Foundation, and supported organizations in more than 70 countries and 1,347 missions carried out over the past three years.
VolunteerIn
Our multilingual platform VolunteerIn allows employees to apply for volunteer work with the foundation’s partners. This includes missions organized by Schneider Electric Teachers. The foundation communities (team, delegates and NGO partners) manage the platform, focusing on vocational energy training, supporting energy-poor families, and raising awareness of sustainable development and entrepreneurship.