For the first time last year, the association “Les Amis de Viisoara” ( Friends of Viisoara) received funding in the framework of BNP Paribas’ “Helping hand” program, designed  to help finance employees’ charity initiatives.  Christine Mille, BNP Paribas employee and  treasurer of the association since its foundation, shares  with us her experience.

In 1992 Marcelle Pleynet, a close friend of Christine Mille and the future president of the association, went on a visit to Romania, and more specificly to the isolated village of Viisoara, where she encountered the local people and witnessed their hardships and problems.

This trip inspired the creation of the association “Les Amis de Viisoara” , whose primary purpose is to provide funding so that local children can persue higher education. The isolated location of the village makes it challenging for parents to send their children to another city and provide for their life there and education.

Thanks to generous financial donations, the association “Les Amis de Viisoara” was able  to renovate the school and purchase school equitment, and help students pay for their housing and transportation.  The association is also working on a partnership with the general council of the town of Seine St. Denis near Paris, which would aid future projects for improving the infractructure of the learning environment in Viisoara.

In an interview to French radio RCF, Christinne Mille talks in detail about the association. Read the full interview.