Dexia currently has 75 employees acting as sponsors helping young people who are experiencing difficulties integrating into the world of work. Exchange and learning are the order of the day with this generous and enriching experiment, the results of which are proving extremely positive.
Dexia Crédit Local (since 2006) and Dexia Sofaxis (since 2008) offer members of staff who so wish the possibility of devoting two hours a month, during their working hours and at their place of work, to sponsoring young people who are looking for a job and are having difficulty integrating into the world of work.
Sixty-five members of staff at Dexia Crédit Local and ten at Dexia Sofaxis are currently sponsoring young people in this way to talk to them, restore their confidence and help them become part of the world of work.
"The young people concerned greatly appreciate the sponsorship offered, as it gives them a chance to meet and interact with people who work, explains Nathalie Plasse, project leader at the Dexia France Foundation, which first set up this scheme. Most of these young people have never crossed the threshold of a company, as often all they receive are letters of rejection. So to be welcomed to Dexia by a "sponsor" is in itself an initial gesture of recognition for them".
The relationship between the "sponsor" and the young person is based above all on listening and exchange: the sponsors meet with the young people once or twice a month to listen to them, talk to them, encourage them, share their knowledge of the corporate world with them, advise them on drawing up a CV, help them prepare for job interviews, make the most of their assets and their abilities, point out where they could improve, etc.
And its works! Out of the 50 young people followed up at Dexia Crédit Local and Dexia Sofaxis in 2008, 25 have found work and five have started training again. Fourteen are still being sponsored and six wanted to give up for family reasons.
On 16 June this year Dexia Crédit Local and the Foundation have been invited to sign the renewal of the "Missions locales" agreement on sponsorship for young people at the Assemblée nationale, in the presence of the Secretary of State for Employment, Laurent WAUQUIEZ. Other leading companies such as AREVA, GDF-SUEZ, CASINO and SNCF, VEOLIA will also be signing their "Missions locales" commitments as regards employment for young people.