Total Attends the Campus de l’Engagement Event

From July 1 to 3, 2019, the first edition of Campus de l’Engagement took place to promote civic participation. Held in Autrans, in France’s Vercors region, the event brought together 350 young people, all of whom had submitted a winning project to the Institut de l’Engagement, as well as 150 representatives from partner companies. It was an opportunity for participants to exchange thoughts, imagine new possibilities and combine their efforts through workshops and round tables. The aim was to work together to tackle the major challenges facing today’s world and give rise to fresh solutions by exploring the expectations and ideas of young generations. Renowned speakers such as Jean Tirole, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, and Boris Cyrulnik, a neuropsychiatrist, helped fuel discussions.

Total Foundation supports the Institut de l’Engagement, a nonprofit organization created in 2012 and headed by Martin Hirsch. Each year, the institute backs the projects of 700 young people, selected for their commitment to a public interest cause as demonstrated through a civic service program. At the end of their civic service, they do not always have the means to take their next steps. The institute helps them make the most of their civic engagement and give shape to their personal project – be it returning to study, finding a job or creating a business – by providing personalized support.

Twelve Total employees got involved in the Campus de l’Engagement event as part of the Action! program. They participated in two workshops. The first, a role play session on “What energies tomorrow to address social and environmental challenges?” asked 15 teams, each comprising a young person and a Total employee, to analyze the different development strategies of a fictitious energy major, Energia. The second workshop, “Strengthening social ties through service stations in rural areas,” brought together some 15 young people and three Total employees to reflect on public interest initiatives that could be developed in rural service stations – sometimes the only businesses still open in small towns – to recreate social ties.

Overall, the first Campus de l’Engagement was a big success. The initiative brought together two worlds that often know little of each other. The dialogue was particularly constructive with the young people in attendance, who were infectiously enthusiastic but also puzzled as to the role large companies played in civic engagement. The direct discussions therefore helped to overcome preconceived ideas, find joint solutions and open up new avenues to collective well-being. “Young people are a unique driver of change. By combining our forces, we will be able to find innovative solutions to make society a more sustainable and inclusive place,” said Manoelle Lepoutre, Senior Vice President, Civil Society Engagement at Total and Managing Director of Fondation Total.