RepoRt on - BNP Paribas

community initiatives to promote social
integration and solidarity
bnP Paribas contributes to the economic
and social development of countries in
which it operates, not only by focusing
on local recruitment (see chart showing
percentage of local employees in the
Human resources chapter), but also by
supporting local initiatives in partnership
with associations and civil society
organisations.
bank of the West
and financial education
in 2000, the group’s us subsidiary became
a partner of operation Hope
inc. (oHi). operation Hope provides
underserved inner-city communities
with mainstream financial services and
financial literacy programmes. the partnership
has sponsored several financial
literacy programmes including banking
on our future (boof), aimed at school
children between 9 to 18 years of age
in oakland, los angeles, Portland and
denver. more than 190 bank of the west
employees have already taken part in
the programme as volunteers, providing
approximately 900 hours of training
to some 5,600 pupils. operation Hope
centers provide free adult financial literacy
and economic empowerment
workshops as well as financial support to
help people become home owners or
set up their own business. the operation
Hope initiative also provides financial
counselling and aid to help natural disaster
victims rebuild their lives.
bmci foundation
banque marocaine pour le commerce
et l’industrie (bmci), the group’s
moroccan subsidiary, has pursued a
policy of cultural and social philanthropy
since the late nineteen nineties
with the aim of contributing to
morocco’s social and cultural development.
it has deepened this commitment
by setting up its own foundation
which works alongside the bnP Paribas
foundation.
in culture, the bmci foundation supports
young musical talent and events
covering classical, jazz and contemporary
music. it is the official partner to
the morocco Philharmonic orchestra
and sponsors the international music
and dance school in casablanca,
international and national music competitions
in morocco and tanjazz, the
tangiers jazz festival. it supports the
country’s literary heritage and encour-
93 <strong>RepoRt</strong> on CoRpoRate SoCial and enviRonmental ReSponSibility
ages young people to read and learn
by financing the publication of children’s
books and the reprinting of old
books. it also sponsors the casablanca
Grand Prix des Jeunes Lecteurs award
for young readers and the Grand Prix
de la Nouvelle award for short stories.
it supports troupes of artistes and promotes
contemporary artistic expression,
dance and new circus arts. the
bmci foundation is a member of the
mohammed-v solidarity foundation’s
Permanent support committee and
the mohammed-vi environmental
Protection foundation, and is a
founding member of the initiatives
association. the foundation’s social
commitment is expressed through four
actions. the first involves the inclusion
of people in difficulties through training
and artistic activities. the second
aims to help disabled people in their
daily lives by providing support from
specialised associations. the third focuses
on medical research and help
for the impoverished sick through support
for moroccan research scientists.
the fourth is developing bnP Paribas
employee Helping Hand projects within
the subsidiary.