The donation results from the participation of more than 140 employees of BNP Paribas in Luxembourg in the Luxembourg Marathon on 8 June. To support their efforts, the  management of BNP Paribas in Luxembourg promised to donate a sum of money in proportion to the number of participants crossing the finishing line. For the eighth year in a row, the involvement of the group’s Luxembourg workforce made it possible to support a project conducted by SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde, a non-profit organisation based in the Grand Duchy.

The funds raised will be allocated to a project supported by SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde in Niger. This project is a family strengthening programme set up in Dosso, around 100 km from Niamey, to improve the living conditions of 1,100 children from 300 families belonging to four local communities. The programme helps parents and guardians to meet the fundamental needs of their children (food, health, education, etc.). It also provides them with the resources (training, microcredit, setting up a micro-company, etc.) to become self-sufficient and manage their children's education alone. Specific emphasis is placed on raising awareness of children's rights and on building the capacities of community organisations to take over and run the project themselves.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Sophie Molitor said she was delighted that the bank had once again selected SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde to benefit from the solidarity shown by participants in this year's marathon: "I would like to extend my warmest thanks to the bank's managers and employees for their continuing loyalty and valuable assistance. This programme plays a vital role in enabling children to grow up with their families, in dignity, in one of the world's poorest countries. In this country, which faced a serious food crisis once again last year, half of all children on average suffer from chronic malnutrition."

Carlo Thill also thanked the many Group employees in Luxembourg who ran in the marathon. "I would like to congratulate all the colleagues who took part in the race this year. Through their efforts in the marathon, half-marathon, or team run, they have contributed to the sum donated this evening to support the work of SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde. Supporting non-profit organisations is an integral part of our commitment to being a responsible community-minded bank and is one of the many initiatives we undertake as part of our corporate social responsibility policy."

At the ceremony, Sophie Molitor also presented other projects supported by the association in Niger, where it has been present since 2006. After financing an extension to the SOS Children's Village in Niamey, it contributed to building another SOS Children's Village and Children's Kindergarten in Dosso. Since 2008, it has supported a family strengthening programme in Tahoua. It is also financing emergency programmes in this rural region, which has been hard hit by drought. The most recent programme was set up in 2012 in the Madaoua area, and is helping 2,411 families in 32 villages.