ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION
THE GENESIS
When Pascal Plisson suggested to Barthélémy Fougea that they should tell the world how difficult it is for some children to get an education, they decided to build a major documentary project around this idea.
A meeting with Jean François Camilleri (Disney France) convinced them to launch the production of a cinema documentary.
A global search was launched to identify children living in remote areas. With the help of UNESCO, Aide et Action, and the professional and personal networks of the producer and director, 80 remarkable stories were uncovered, each more extraordinary than the last.
Among them, four children were chosen for their symbolic journeys and their unshakable belief in education as the path to a better future.
JACKSON, CARLITO, SAMUEL ET ZAHIRA BECOME OUR AMBASSADORS.
The Documentary
During the production of the documentary, we established support for the communities involved to improve access to education as part of the filming process.
The film "On the Way to School" was released in theaters in October 2013. It was a major public success and won the César Award for Best Documentary!
It became clear to us that we had to share this success with the protagonists of the film and provide long-term support for their efforts to access education.
THE ASSOCIATION
It was at this point that we created the Association Sur le Chemin de l’Ecole, with the goal of establishing scholarships for these children and supporting their communities in promoting education. We provided uniforms and backpacks for Jackson and Salomé, purchased a wheelchair for Samuel, organized a girls' dormitory closer to school for Zahira, and also created school libraries and set up tutoring sessions.
In the three years that followed, Winds produced 26 other television documentaries, telling the unique stories of more heroic children who brave mountains and rivers to reach their schools. It became a worldwide journey of school paths.
In response to requests from French schools to screen these films and hold discussions about the extraordinary privilege we have in France with such easy access to education, we added an awareness-raising mission to the Association's work.
THREE MAINS PILLARS DEFINE OUR MISSION
1 - CREATING SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN WHO FACE CHALLENGES IN ACCESSING EDUCATION.
2 - SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITIES OF THESE CHILDREN BY HELPING THEM OFFER A RICHER AND STRONGER EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
3 - RAISING AWARENESS AMONG FRENCH CHILDREN AND HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD IN ACCESSING EDUCATION.
For over 10 years, we have been fighting tirelessly to offer them the prospect of a better future, and collecting donations for each child.
OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE TODAY IS TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF THESE PROJECTS.
TODAY
School grants
More than 180 children benefit from school grants, giving them access to quality education.
Awareness-raising
More than 200 Solidarity Workshops have been set up in French schools, promoting international solidarity.
Support for Educational Communities
Ongoing support is provided to many educational communities, underlining our commitment to improving access to education for all.
Building a school in Kenya
We are involved in building a school in Kenya, with the aim of extending educational opportunities in disadvantaged areas.
