Protecting and empowering

Supporting education for girls

We believe that making real progress on the issue of gender inequality depends on addressing its fundamental causes, including the lack of access to quality education. One charity tackling this very issue in Morocco is CSSF – they’re helping girls from rural areas to develop their education and sense of individuality. 

According to its president, Naima Senhadji, CSSF is based on the values of participation, equal opportunities, and a culture of human rights. “CSSF was created with a clear vision: to ensure all rural girls in Morocco have access to quality education, are aware of their role in society, and fully enjoy their rights,” says Naima. “This prevents underage marriage and early labour, both of which are forms of violence against girls.”

Bringing joy to schooling

Also tackling the root causes of violence is the Deenabandhu Trust, which works with Capgemini to improve the way young children at schools in India learn. “The students at these schools come from very poor backgrounds,” says Saibal Mitra from the Trust. “We are also aware of the domestic violence that takes place in society, especially towards young girls. Addressing this issue was paramount for this project.” 

Addressing violence against women during the global pandemic

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the issues facing vulnerable women have only intensified. Not only have cases of domestic violence risen, some organizations that offer shelter to women have been unable to take new residents.

Capgemini contacted the Fondation des Femmes in France, which works with women experiencing violence, to offer a solution: the Serge Kampf Les Fontaines Campus, named after Capgemini’s founder, would be opened as a safe haven for a group of woman and children.

Celine Rancoule, director of patronage at the Fondation des Femmes, thanked the Capgemini teams for their help. “The project involved opening up Les Fontaines during full lockdown, in greatest secrecy. However, the team showed incredible professionalism to make this happen in record time in difficult circumstances.”

Ensuring safety and shelter

AFJ is another French organization that has benefited from Capgemini’s support. AFJ provides protection, accommodation and educational, psychological and legal support for women at risk from sex trafficking. 
 
Its president, Yolanda Gutierrez Moya, says: “Trafficking in human beings is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. France is the destination country for women and girls trafficked for sexual exploitation, forced labor and domestic servitude.” 
 
Capgemini teams have come together to use their digital, data, and cloud skills to help AFJ fulfill its goals. 

Rebuilding careers

Other groups are creating opportunities for women who have suffered violence to succeed in their careers. For example, the charity Led by HER promotes better access to entrepreneurship for women, and fights to secure greater rights. 

“We help women who have suffered from violence to rebuild their lives through entrepreneurship teaching, coaching and mentoring” says Chiara Condi, founder. “Our program is the first of its kind to specifically address the challenge of rebuilding a woman’s professional career, rather than meeting their emergency needs.” 

Bringing light to girls in India with Enlight

‘Enlight’ is a project delivered by Capgemini India to bring education to girls from disadvantaged families, including girls with disabilities, or from poor and homeless families.

In doing so, it is helping to protect women against violence by addressing the social conditions and biases that deny access to basic facilities for girls and women. This involves providing access to quality primary education for girls, using technology to improve the cognitive development of children, and strengthening the functioning of schools. Also, promoting better health and hygiene practices, and providing access to vocational skills.

To date, more than 90% of participating children have improved their competency levels in reading, writing and arithmetic, while parents and partnering communities have shown a greater awareness of the issues at stake and the aims of the project.