La banque d'un monde qui change 2004 - BNP Paribas

International prestigeAfter having worked as a dancer with several leadingchoreographers, Béatrice Massin spent 10 years studyingthe baroque music repertoire and founded her own company,Les Fêtes Galantes. Béatrice Massin’s creations rediscoverthe rich and playful dimensions of this form of dance, riddingit of any affected mannerisms. On stage, her dancers joyfullyblend traditional 17th-century steps with crossings intocontemporary dance, in a pleasure-filled musical dialoguebetween the baroque and modern. In 2004, the BNP ParibasFoundation, one of France’s few corporate sponsors of dance,decided to give its backing to this company.For the past 10 years, Afev, a non-profit student group,has been organising volunteer work by students who wantto help the youth of underprivileged neighbourhoods.In 2004, Afev received UN backing to help organisethe Global Youth Service Day, an initiative deployedin 125 countries that aims to encourage, recogniseand publicise the commitment displayed by millionsof young people in the field of community outreach,as well as advocate a greater role for youth within society.As Afev’s loyal partner, the BNP Paribas Foundationalso joined the GYSD initiative.The Foundation is gradually expanding its workoutside France. In addition to partneringthe international tours of the artists it supports,it has launched programmes with an internationalscope and provides advice, support and leverageto entities that want to develop their localpartnerships or set up a foundation. Followingthe BNP Paribas Switzerland Foundation createdin 2002 and the BNP Paribas Brazil Foundationestablished in 2003, a Moroccan Foundationwas born in 2004.Group branches in New York and Londonhave been involved for many years in formsof community patronage. BNP Paribas New Yorksupports a broad range of organisations that fightdomestic violence, provide educational assistanceto youth in underprivileged neighbourhoods,help former Broadway dancers affectedby HIV/AIDS or give psychological assistanceto former convicts.In London, BNP Paribas expanded its previousinitiatives by launching a joint pilot projectwith Business in the Community, the charityfounded by Prince Charles, to teach Frenchin one of the poorest neighbourhoods of London.Several employees of the branch thereforedevote lunch hours to teaching French to sixthform students.