Employees of
Air Liquide
An Essential factor
The Foundation is supported by men and women of
Air Liquide. They are involved in every project.
From the start,
The Foundation needed Air Liquide employees to be part of the projects it supports, for project- sponsoring, project-monitoring or to transfer skills.
Dozens of Air Liquide employees have contributed their professional skills with high motivation to the Foundation. The Foundation has relied on their understanding of local issues and knowledge of NGO’s acting on the ground. When it comes to community projects, they see for themselves that they are carried out effectively.
Employees Get Involved
1. Project Sponsoring
The Foundation encourages Air Liquide employees to work on behalf of their communities by sponsoring an organization of their choice.
How It Works
Air Liquide employees present the Foundation with local development projects they care about in the fields of education, job training, disability, social issues or access to healthcare. These projects must take place in Europe or in a developing economy, always located near an Air Liquide subsidiary. Project sponsors do not evaluate or follow the project they have sponsored (see below), but they will be updated about the project's progress by the Foundation’s team.
Testimonial
"I recommended this project to the Air Liquide Foundation because my husband does volunteer work for the association. We are proud to now be the first project supported by the Air Liquide Foundation in Italy. I believe that it’s important to bring something personal to my company, as well as to these children, thanks to this support."
Lina Feudi, Air Liquide Italy, recommended Dynamo Camp’s project
2. Project Evaluation & Monitoring
A project needs to be evaluated and, if validated by the Foundation, must then be monitored till its completion. We rely on the same employee (different from the “sponsor”) to evaluate and monitor the project. This ensures that we understand the expectations of our partner and deliver successfully.
How It Works
When a local development project is shortlisted, a volunteer from the local Air Liquide subsidiary will work alongside the organization that requires the Foundation’s support.. Their job is to support the organization's team throughout the programme, from the feasibility study to the final completion and impact testing. The employee is responsible for visiting the project site and verifying that it meets the Foundation’s selection and viability criteria.
Once the support agreement has been signed between the Foundation and the organization, the employee will also ensure that the work is going smoothly and that the Foundation’s funds are being used properly.
Once the project is complete, she/he will assess the implementation. The employee’s commitment at each step of the way helps guarantee the Foundation has a positive, tangible impact on the causes itsupports.
For all scientific projects evaluation & monitoring is done by an Air Liquide R&D expert.
The Foundation asks Air Liquide experts, doctors and researchers to assess the quality and relevance of the research projects. Discussions and laboratory visits often take place before the project is sent to the Board of Directors for a decision.
Testimonial
"I have nothing but good things to say. The Foundation has established an excellent project monitoring process and they supported us through all the project phases. This process includes visits at the beginning, middle and end of the project. In addition to the two projects that I worked on (establishing the “But en or” sports center in Bobigny and the “Job dans la Ville" academy in Pantin, northeastern suburbs of Paris), I also organized a tour of Air Liquide’s Campus Innovation Paris facility that introduced young women to Air Liquide employees and technical careers. Beyond just financial support, I believe that developing lasting relationships between Air Liquide and the organizations the Foundation supports is a good idea. It feels good to be able to contribute in my own small way to helping young people from disadvantaged neighborhoods find jobs."
Raphaël Grandeau, Research Engineer at Air Liquide (Paris Innovation Campus) & Monitoring Manager for Sport Dans la Ville in Paris region
Discover the projects supported by Raphael
3. Skill-based sponsorship
Skills-based sponsorship is to encourage expertise sharing and mutual support and to enable employees to spend a portion of their working hours helping an organization. The end result: a meaningful and rewarding interpersonal experience, that benefits both the employee and the people being helped.
How It Works
Employees can put their professional skills to work for individuals or organizations to help with a specific project or the development of an organization, as a one-off or on a regular basis. This is a win-win approach where the supported organization is able to access expertise that is not available or is still in development, while the employee shares her/his expertise and expands her/his horizons. These experiences provide for enriching encounters and a feeling of accomplishment.
Testimonial
"After working for Air Liquide for thirty years, I wanted to work on a social project in a professional capacity. The Air Liquide group offered me a senior skills-based sponsorship mission at Ares, an organization supported by the Air Liquide Foundation. Ares is the first group for professional integration in France for people facing social exclusion. I am seconded on a full-time basis for an 18-month assignment at Ares, where I am building a strong safety culture within the organization modelled after the Air Liquide “Zero Accident Goal” program. What made me even more excited about the project was the opportunity to meet people who have faced difficulties in their lives and contribute to their professional integration: formerly incarcerated or homeless individuals, people struggling with addiction and more. Through Ares support, nearly two-thirds of the people it accompanies are able to find long-term stable employment. For me this is an incredibly rewarding interpersonal experience. It is something that motivates me in my daily life: sharing my expertise and helping change people’s lives for good."
Joël André, Air Liquide employee on temporary assignment at ARES (2020-2021)