Help the GroinGroin shelter

GroinGroin

Providing sanitary protection for vulnerable women

Règles élémentaires

Combating deforestation in threatened areas

Coeur de Forêt

Protecting endangered coral reefs

Coral Guardian

Helping the Ukrainian people in difficulty

Ensemble Ukraine

Raising ecological awareness in mountain areas

Mountain Riders

Organizing recreational stays for sick children in France

L'ENVOL

Are you an association? Don't miss our webinar on September 23: click here 👉

It's finally time for Dift to open its doors to the world 🥳🎉 To find out more about the kitty, support Mountain Riders' incredible project, (and celebrate a little with me!) take part in my (first) kitty, help me reach the first level and, above all, let us know what you think ❤️‍🔥

young people aware of climate change by 2023

litter collected in the mountains (during 82 collections in 2024)

Camille Rey-Gorrez

<div>For the first time, <strong>Mountain Riders</strong> took part in <strong>Sport For Future</strong>, bringing together athletes, NGOs, brands, scientists and institutions around a common goal: to make sport a lever for the ecological transition.</div><div>📍 <strong>In Chamonix</strong>, a territory with the Flocon Vert label, we carried out several strong actions alongside committed athletes and partners in the field:<br><br>
</div><strong>Tuesday</strong>, co-hosting the <strong>Fresque de la Montagne</strong> with Xavier Thévenard to set a collective framework for understanding climate issues in the mountains.<strong>Wednesday</strong>, <strong>immersion on the Mer de Glace</strong> with Luc Moreau (glaciologist) and guides from the Compagnie des Guides, followed by a <strong>waste collection and characterization</strong>: over 27 kg collected to establish an environmental diagnosis at the start of the water cycle.<strong>Saturday</strong>, hosting a <strong>public roundtable</strong> crossing views between sport, individual commitment and territorial transition.<br><div>🎽 Some fifteen athletes were present alongside us, sharing the same desire: to use their voice and their practice to protect the territories in which they evolve.</div><div>🙌 A first participation rich in cooperation, actions and perspectives. A collective breath of fresh air to continue accelerating the transition in the mountains!</div>

Mountain Riders at Sport For Future 2024 - A first committed participation in Chamonix

<div>Dear difteur-ses,</div><br><div>"Do we really sleep outside? With the groundhogs?"</div><div> The question, sincere and tinged with apprehension, comes up during a workshop. Young people from CDSA 73 (Fédération Française du Sport Adapté) are preparing for an extraordinary experience: their very first night in a bivouac, in the heart of the Vanoise mountains. </div><br><div>This summer, some fifty of them, aged between 14 and 25, have already set off to hike, sleep and live together in the heart of nature. In all, we've already organized 18 days, including 11 nights in tents, to help them discover a different relationship with the world, with the collective, with themselves. </div><br><div>For nearly ten years, through the <strong>"Montagnez-nous" project,</strong> we have been offering young people from social, educational and medico-social structures a different way of experiencing the mountains. Not as a simple postcard backdrop, but as a terrain for experience and transformation. </div><div>⛰️ Here, the mountain becomes an <strong>educational and inclusive tool</strong>, a lever for creating links between young people with varied backgrounds, cultures and abilities.</div><br><div> 🌿 It's also a concrete way of tackling issues of <strong>ecology</strong>, citizenship, emancipation.</div><br><div>At a time when individualism is gaining ground, <strong>"Montagnez-nous"</strong> is betting on the strength of the collective, on contact with living things and on the power of shared paths. So that the mountains are not just a place to admire, but a place to grow, and all this: thanks to you! Thank you for your support.</div>

"Montagnez-nous": an immersion in nature to learn to live together

<div>Dear Difteur-ses,</div><br><div>Since the launch of our annual mountain litter-picking campaign in March 2025, <strong>1,570 participants</strong> have mobilized in <strong>30 operations</strong> to clean up the peaks and trails.</div><br><div> 👉 Result? <strong>4.6 tons of rubbish</strong> collected and characterized (characterization is a big word for a (super) method developed by the MerTerre association to diagnose pollution following a collection operation), <strong>16,835 cigarette butts</strong> collected, and a <strong>majority of plastic</strong> spared fragile ecosystems. </div><br><br><div>💚 <strong>Thank you, donors</strong>: your concrete support enables us to move forward towards our goal of <strong>Zero Wild Waste Mountain</strong>. Without you, none of this would be possible. </div><br><br><div>📅 And the mobilization continues! Many <strong>pickup dates are coming</strong> all over France: every action counts to preserve our mountain territories. </div><div>🔗 https://www.mountain-riders.org/agenda/</div><br><div>A big thank you for your support!</div>

Over 4.6 tonnes of garbage already collected... thanks to you! 🏔️

<div>Dear difteur-ses,</div><br><div>Much more than a simple stay, the <strong>Village Polaire</strong> is a unique experience that plunges some forty young people, aged 11 to 16, into the heart of the mountains every year. Supported by our association and partner structures, this project aims to offer young people in the Savoy region total immersion in an environment that is often little-known and difficult to access. </div><br><div>As soon as they arrived in the heart of the Charteuse, the energy was high: snowball fights, collective challenges and igloo building punctuated the first moments. <strong>Cooperation and good humor</strong> were essential in building this ephemeral shelter, reinforcing the youngsters' team spirit. </div><br><div>Over the course of the stay, the youngsters also prepared a campfire, built a blind to discreetly observe the local wildlife, and explored the mountain landscapes in search of animal footprints. This immersion enabled them to better understand <strong>the fragility and richness</strong>of this exceptional ecosystem. </div><br><div>But beyond the activities, what will remain of the Polar Village are above all <strong>the memories etched in the minds</strong>. Discovering the mountains in winter, adapting to them, respecting and preserving them are all part of the fundamental values of this project. Each young person leaves with a new awareness: that of the need to leave nature <strong>as untouched as possible</strong>.</div><br><div>
<strong>A big thank you to you</strong> for making this possible!</div>

The Polar Village: winter mountain immersion

<div>Dear difteurs,</div><br><div>We wish you a very happy 2025 ✨</div><br><div>In <strong>2024</strong>, we have strengthened our actions with various audiences to help meet the systemic challenges we face. Our educational projects have diversified and adapted to different contexts and groups. </div><br><div>
<strong>Focus on our concrete actions in schools</strong>:</div><br><div>🧑🏼‍🎓 Through our <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gWhfDMu0nCofTajB_S7Y9iuy3u80MfjE?usp=drive_link">program </a><strong><a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gWhfDMu0nCofTajB_S7Y9iuy3u80MfjE?usp=drive_link">"Let's take the R",</a></strong> we have enabled teachers and activity leaders to tackle the impacts of climate disruption on children's everyday lives in a fun and understandable way. Through <strong>participatory activities</strong>, pupils were able to become aware of these issues while developing a critical mindset and a desire to take action. </div><br><div>🏔️ The <strong>Montagne Zéro Déchet</strong> program raised young people's awareness of mountain waste issues. The aim was not to make people feel guilty, but to <strong>encourage children to actively mobilize</strong> to find solutions, while involving teachers in this dynamic. </div><br><div>⛅️ We also supported the <strong>"open-air"</strong>school experiment, which places outdoor learning at the heart of young people's development, promoting their well-being and health. </div><br><div>We wish to emphasize that it is an essential lever for understanding and acting on tomorrow's challenges. Whether by raising awareness among young people, training adults or supporting local structures, <strong>we encourage everyone to take action</strong> with a non-judgmental approach, but one that empowers and inspires!</div><br><div>We will continue to work for an education that inspires and transforms. </div><br><div><strong>A big thank you to you, dear difters, for your invaluable support and donations 🌟</strong></div>

Educating for transformation: the mountains as terrain for the future

<div>Dear difteurs,</div><br><div>As the year draws to a close, we'd like to send you our warmest thoughts and best wishes for this year-end. 🌟 </div><br><div>At Mountain Riders, we cultivate<strong>the joy and spirit of "doing things together" to accompany mountain territories in their transition, </strong>in the service of living<strong>.</strong>These values, we carry through each of our actions, whether influencing, supporting, co-constructing or even spreading inspiring initiatives. </div><br><div>Our commitment is fueled by the support and energy of volunteers, members, partners, service providers and a motivated team. </div><br><div>To discover all that we have achieved and the projects that drive us, we invite you to read our <strong><a href="https://www.mountain-riders.org/app/uploads/2024/11/Rapport-dactivite-2023-2024-2-1-compresse.pdf">activity report</a></strong><a href="https://www.mountain-riders.org/app/uploads/2024/11/Rapport-dactivite-2023-2024-2-1-compresse.pdf">.</a>
</div><br><div>
<strong>A huge thank you for your support throughout this year</strong>. Together, let's continue to take action for our mountains. We wish you a wonderful holiday season and a beautiful year 2025 full of serenity, discoveries and shared commitments. 🎄✨ </div><br><div>Together, for our mountains. 🏔️💚 </div>

Together for our mountains

<div>Since 2016, over<strong>1,000 beneficiaries, in school, out-of-school, integration and vocational training settings, with audiences as diverse</strong> as youth, families, adults in professional situations, young people and adults in custody, disabled or otherwise, have been able to discover the mountains and their exceptional environment. <br><strong>Long-term</strong>, these projects <strong>mix indoor activities, day trips, and itinerant stays,</strong> with nights in refuges, under the stars, under tarpaulins, in trees or simply in tents. And encounters with those who live from the mountains, in the mountains.</div><div><br></div><div>While we're taking these audiences out into nature, <strong>environmental issues also continue to gain momentum</strong>: climate disruption is more topical than ever, with summers of flooding, drought, forest fires and storms, and the loss of biodiversity continuing to accelerate. There's no shortage of challenges for those who intend to help solve the ecological crisis and commit to eco-citizenship. </div><div> </div><div>Nature, the mountains, and their environmental and cultural heritage, are for us <strong>tools/means that have as their purpose: </strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>living-together, </strong> <strong>eco-citizenship, </strong> <strong>"eco-empowerment".<br></strong>Ambitious objectives, which play above all a role of aiming, of azimuth, of direction to follow, without however defining precisely the path to follow. <br><br>Thank you again for your support which brings these projects to life! </div>

Gain perspective on our educational projects...

<br><br><div>𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 🎇 The first step on our path to a Zero Waste Mountain in 2030.<br>𝟒 𝟔𝟖𝟓 👨‍👩‍👧 participants (local authorities, volunteers, economic players...) We are delighted to have shared these moments of commitment together!<br>𝟖𝟎 ⛰️ pick-ups organized this year (60% of which were autonomously organized by the destinations, well done!)<br>𝟓𝟖 𝟕𝟕𝟔 🚬 cigarette butts collected (the waste star we can't seem to dethrone)<br>𝟏𝟖 tons of litter found (that's a lot to bear...)<br>𝟒𝟗 📜 signatory structures of the Zero Waste Mountain charter<br>𝟐𝟎𝟑𝟎 📅 the year to achieve a Zero Waste<br>𝟎 ❌ is the amount of waste we'd like to collect (it's our favorite number)<br><br>
</div><div>The full balance sheet, with all the figures and the comparison with last year, will be in a few months. Many more "Adopt'1 Spots" are planned for the autumn.<br><br>
</div><div>Thank you all again for your vital support in this wonderful adventure! We'll keep you posted on the next steps. 🙏 </div>

 Garbage collection in the mountains is over for 2024! And it's time to take stock

<div>News for our Captains! As you know, the mountains are a fragile ecosystem that we strive to preserve. However, despite its magnificent landscapes that we love so much, every year <strong>tons of litter are abandoned on its slopes.</strong> <br><br>
</div><div>As you know, <strong>after more than twenty years of pick-ups, 2023 marks a historic moment,</strong>with an unprecedented commitment by mountain stakeholders to the ambitious goal of Montagne Zéro Déchet Sauvage by 2030. <br><br>
</div><div>⛰️ Wondering what the first step towards this ambition is? <strong>Reduce mountain litter by 10% by 2024.</strong> <br><br>
</div><div>With this in mind, we launched our 2024 mountain litter pickup season a few weeks ago. <br><br>
</div><div>
<strong>🌿 </strong>In the space of a few weeks and with the participation of nearly 600 volunteers at <strong>15 pick-ups, </strong>we've already collected more than <strong>1.5 tons of rubbish</strong>, 42% of which is plastic.<br><br> Our road to a rubbish-free mountain by 2030 is still a long one, and we need you all. Many thanks for your support! </div>

2024 pick-ups are underway

<div> The mountains are an unspoilt territory, yet <strong>every year, tons of litter are collected.</strong> Unchecked mountain pollution has an impact on the Planet's aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity. As essential players in the start of the water cycle, <strong>La Montagne is committed, with one voice, to achieving zero uncontrolled waste in the mountains by 2030.</strong> <br>This is why we are organizing, on March 21 the<strong>first National Meetings Mountain Zero Uncontrolled Waste in 2030 </strong>in Chambéry.<br><br> 👉🏻 On the program: <br>- Speeches by experts on wild pollution in the mountains, <br>- Feedback from the field on source reduction solutions, <br>- 1st assessments and forecasts of the national commitment Montagne Zéro Déchet sauvage en 2030. <br><br>🎯A friendly and constructive day, ambitiously turned towards the future of our mountains! Together for our mountains!</div>

National Zero Waste Mountain Meetings

<div>The origins of Mountain Riders can be traced back to litter picks in the mountains. More than 20 years later, the association is still going strong. The theme? Education in ecological transition in the mountains. Garbage pick-ups? We're still doing it! The Montagne Zéro Déchet Sauvage en 2030 project was born of this observation: 20 years on, we're still collecting. </div><div><br></div><div>
<strong>The ambition is simple: 0 wild waste in our mountains by 2030.</strong> This goal is no longer Mountain Riders': on March 16, 2023,<strong>many mountain players committed to this objective, through the signing of a charter, and the creation of action plans.</strong> What we're aiming for today: reduction at source. If we want to stop collecting, we need to turn off the tap!</div><div><br></div><div>Through collection and characterization, through empowerment of territories, thanks to scientific data, with the federation of players and by raising awareness of all, the intention is clear:<strong> we need to play it collective!</strong>
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Our history

<div>More and more of you are taking part in our mountain litter pick-up days, and we'd like to thank you!<br><br>
</div><div>The 2023 season in a few figures is:</div><div>72 pick-ups</div><div>55 level 2 characterizations</div><div>3,681 volunteers during pick-ups</div><div>14,594 tons of waste collected</div><div> </div><div>But it's also: new territories in the project, increasingly automatic characterization carried out by local players, more efficient pick-ups and a growing "scientific" database.</div><div>See you soon for new collections.</div>

Our pick-ups in 2023...

<div>Achieve zero wild waste in the mountains by 2030? <strong>It was around this objective that we brought together 100 mountain stakeholders in Grenoble on Thursday, March 16.</strong>  That same day, <strong>the launch of the national campaign to collect litter in the mountains</strong> sounded off and <strong>the National Charter "Mountains Zero Wild Waste in 2030" was signed. </strong>A beautiful day, a hundred or so participants, round tables, exchanges...<br><br>
</div><div>It was around this same concrete, measurable and ambitious objective that all the stakeholders united: <br>- Mountain economic players: Atout France, Syndicat National des Moniteurs de Ski Français, Domaines Skiables de France, France Montagnes, Nordic France, Syndicat National des Accompagnateurs en Montagne, Union Nationale des Accompagnateurs en Montagne, Agence Savoie Mont Blanc, Agence des Pyrénées, Union Sports et Cycles, Cluster Montagne ;</div><div>- Régions Auvergne Rhône Alpes &amp; Région Sud ;<br>- Institutional players : Association Nationale des Maires de Stations de Montagne ;<br>- Many Flocon Vert territories also represented: Font Romeu, Val D'Isère, Tignes, Chamrousse, Valloire, Les Arcs, Megève, Combloux, Morzine-Avoriaz...<br><br>
</div><div>Bolstered by this commitment, public and private players intend to<strong> make the mountains the only territory free of all wild pollution</strong> (cigarette butts, unique catering packaging, waste from commerce, building sites animations events...).<br><br>
</div><div>With a view to eliminating litter by 2030, stakeholders are working with Mountain Riders to <strong>determine action plans and various deadlines.</strong> The year 2023 will be "year 0" for measuring litter pollution, with the aim of achieving zero litter by 2030, with various stages: -10% in 2024, -40% in 2026 and -70% in 2028.<br><br>
</div><div>On the same day, Olivia Grégoire, <strong>Minister Delegate in charge of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Trade, Craft Industry and Tourism, took part in a videoconference to support the approach of this National Charter</strong> "Montagne zéro Déchet Sauvage en 2030". In particular, she emphasized "<strong>the indispensable, simple but ambitious</strong>" objective of the charter. <br><br>
</div><div>Fabrice Panneckouke closed the morning by affirming this necessary<strong>collective ambition</strong>, in which the AURA region is fully involved. </div><div>The SUD region is also part of it, and we intend to mobilize all the Regions and Massif Commissariats, as well as the Ministry of Transition!" <br><br>
</div><div>The collective challenge we face here enables us to <strong>learn how to do things together in a very concrete way</strong> and thus prepare to take on other ambitions for the ecological transition of our mountain territories. </div>

Zero waste in the mountains by 2030?

My first Dift Kitty 🥰

Because it's a subject close to my heart, and because we can make a difference together, by bringing happiness to the elderly. Every donation counts!

reading sessions for frail elderly people

reading session with a frail elderly person

establishments in France that host readings

of plant caregivers report an increase in well-being

Bringing happiness to isolated elderly people through reading

Geneviève

Lire et Sourire

<div>Summer has sounded the hour for a first assessment for <strong>Lire et Sourire</strong>, and the results testify to a fine show of solidarity: our volunteers have already provided <strong>1,376 hours of reading aloud in retirement homes</strong> to the elderly. Adding preparation and training time, the total comes to 3,716 hours of<strong>volunteer work</strong> performed in the first half of the year.<br><br>
</div><div>Today, <strong>Lire et Sourire</strong> works in <strong>126 retirement homes</strong>, thanks to the commitment of <strong>250 volunteers</strong>. Each reading session is a moment of sharing that brings residents:</div>+ escape thanks to the stories,+ comfort through the voice and caring presence,+ and above all a precious human bond, which helps break the isolation.<div><br></div><div>And this is just the beginning! Starting in September, <strong>new readings in retirement homes</strong> will get underway in <strong>Ain</strong>, <strong>Seine-et-Marne</strong>, <strong>Lyon</strong>, <strong>Douai</strong> and <strong>Annecy</strong>. The association thus continues to expand its network and bring the magic of words to more seniors.</div><div><br></div>

More than 1,300 hours of reading in retirement homes by 2025

1000 reads for 1000 smiles

Tech can change your life! With Sistech, we help refugee women to retrain and write a new chapter. Every donation, large or small, opens a door to the future. Join the movement! Sistech is an association that helps refugee women retrain for jobs in the tech industry. Thanks to your donations, they benefit from training, mentoring and a professional network to help them build a new life and regain their place in society. Every contribution opens a door to a better future. Thank you for your support!

Soon <b>20 hours of support for refugee women</b>!

hour of psychosocial support for a refugee woman

hours of psychosocial support for refugee women

of refugee women are still unemployed 5 years after their arrival

of refugee women sign a work contract or go on to advanced training at the end of their Sistech course.

Training women refugees in the tech industry

Josephine Goube

Sistech

<div>Dear Difteur-ses,<br><br>In France, we have just closed the <strong>Pathway</strong> <strong>2025</strong> 🎉 After several weeks exploring digital tools, discovering professions and developing new skills, <strong>45 tech talents are ready to move on to the next stage.<br></strong><br>
</div><div>And the adventure continues: our two <strong>Springboard</strong> programs in Greece and Italy currently bring together <strong>90 participants</strong> in total. They move forward together towards new professional opportunities, supported by committed trainers, mentors and partner companies.<br><br>
</div><div>Each step taken reinforces our conviction:<strong>the professional inclusion of refugee women is a source of wealth and innovation for the entire ecosystem.<br><br></strong>🙏 Thank you to all those who make these journeys possible.</div>

🎯 A summer rich in learning and perspectives

<div>Dear difteur-ses,</div><br><div>At the end of June, Sistech was lucky enough to celebrate Refugee Week with some powerful moments around the professional inclusion of refugee women.</div><br><div>It all started with a breakfast hosted by our founder in Paris. Between testimonials from managers and HRDs from our partner companies<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/bnp-paribas/"> </a>and powerful stories from former beneficiaries (Fellows) of our programs, now in post, the discussion was as concrete as it was inspiring.</div><br><div>It emerged that refugees, by force of circumstance, develop a posture of continuous learning: new languages, new social codes... A reality that forges agile and curious talents, profiles that companies can count on to innovate in their daily lives.</div><br><div>Many miles away, a team member and another Fellow received the "We Welcome" award at a ceremony in Rome. This prize is awarded by the UNHCR to organizations working for the economic inclusion of refugees in Italy.</div><br><div>We concluded with our own online event, bringing together former Fellows from all the countries where we run our programs: France, Italy and Greece. They explained how belonging to a community has helped them make their dreams come true and what excites them most about the future of tech.</div><br><div>A big <strong>THANK YOU</strong> for your support!</div>

A World Refugee Day rich in events and sharing

<div>Dear Difteur-ses,</div><br><div>Getting a job interview is never easy. So imagine having to do it in a language that isn't your own... </div><br><div>As part of our <strong>Boost</strong> program, we organize mock interviews with our partner companies. These sessions enable refugee women to<strong>practice in real-life conditions,</strong> <strong>gain confidence</strong> and <strong>leave with valuable advice</strong> for their future job applications. </div><br><div>📈 Recently, a session organized with the support of<strong> BNP Paribas</strong> enabled 19 participants to live this experience in a caring and professional setting.</div><br><div>
<strong>Thank you</strong> for making these defining moments in the Fellows' journey possible!</div>

🎤 Preparing to convince: interview simulations with BNP Paribas

<div>Dear Difteur-ses,</div><br><div>This month, 20 refugee women from Ukraine, Ethiopia and Tunisia have brilliantly completed their journey in our <strong>Boost program</strong>. </div><div>After ten weeks of intense training - between polished CVs, sharpened LinkedIn profiles and company visits - they took the floor at <strong><em><a href="https://bigmedia.bpifrance.fr/nos-actualites/resonances-de-sistech-quand-les-femmes-refugiees-bousculent-la-tech">Résonances, Sistech's Networking evening</a></em></strong><em>,</em> organized in Paris on April 2. They presented their ambitions in cybersecurity, data, web development and much more.</div><br><div>Their common goal? Rebuild themselves in France and make their mark in tech. Buoyed by their resilience and thirst for the future, these women fix their gaze on their future. <strong>Joséphine Goube</strong>, founder of Sistech, sums up: "They didn't choose exile, but decided to take their future into their own hands and chose ambitious careers in France". The event was also an opportunity for the women to meet recruiters and decision-makers from companies ready to welcome them. A beautiful burst of hope, courage, and expertise.</div><br><div>Miles away, your Difts also enabled Sistech to finalize our <strong>program</strong> <strong>Pathway</strong> in Italy (with 45 refugee women) and Greece (another 35). Armed with renewed confidence and clear objectives to guide them, many of them will begin technical training courses in May. </div><br><div>
<strong>A big thank you to you</strong> for making this possible!</div><br>

100 women, 1000 talents, one ambition: tech!

<div>Dear difteurs,</div><br><div>Among the key moments in the Sistech calendar are our "networking<em>"</em> events, where HR professionals meet (in person) the beneficiaries (Fellows) of our Boost program. These refugee women are ready to start careers in web development, cybersecurity, data analysis.... whatever they need. </div><div>This is an opportunity for them to meet a recruiter who recognizes their technical skills, experience and passion. Thanks to your difts, Sistech can organize these meetings.</div><br><div>At the end of 2024, we organized two such events, in <strong>Milan</strong> and <strong>Athens</strong>. </div><br><div>Both evenings were incredible, rich in Fellows' presentations, and many bonds were forged. One of the highlights of our event in Greece was<strong>Cynthia's</strong> speech. A former recipient of the program in 2023, she had given her own presentation 12 months earlier. She was no longer a Fellow, but a <em>"</em>former <em>student</em> of the program. Today she works for one of Europe's leading new technology companies. Her words bring us strength and inspiration as we enter 2025, and we wanted to share them with you:</div><br><div><em>"Some of you represent companies, some of you volunteer, and some of you work for associations, but you all have something to give. Give what you can, give what's personal and special about you. Even if you can't see it now, it will contribute to a radical change, just as it did for me."</em></div><br><div><strong>A big thank you to you, dear difters, for your invaluable support and donations ✨</strong></div>

Give what's personal and special about you'.

<div>Thanks to your drifts, this back-to-school season has been a success for Sistech and the many refugee women we support (the Fellows).</div><div><br></div><div>Our team in France began our vocational training program, the <strong>Springboard</strong>, with a cohort of <strong>31 women</strong>. They met for the first time on October 4 in Paris, at Raise, one of our key partners. Over the next few weeks, these women will have the opportunity <strong>to identify a career path</strong>. Guided by volunteers, they will then devote many hours to individual study, acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to land a job in the <strong>tech or digital sectors.</strong> The Sistech team will ensure that they enroll in courses relevant to their goals, provide them with computers, and organize baby sitting if necessary, so that they have time to  complete their studies.</div><div>  </div><div>In parallel, we launched our <strong>Boost program in Italy with 15 Fellows</strong>. A logical sequel to Springboard, Boost prepares women for their job search in the career for which they have trained. Before the end of the year, they will have rewritten their CVs, created a LinkedIn page, developed their professional network and learned how to ace a job interview. <br>In <strong>Greece</strong>, we also launched a <strong>Boost program</strong> at the same time,<strong> along with 15 other Fellows.</strong>
</div><div><br></div><div>Your calculations are correct:<strong>our re-entry supports 61 women.</strong>We're proud of our <strong>three programs,</strong> but they're just getting started. <strong>There's a lot of work (and learning) to come, so keep supporting us with your difts!</strong>
</div>

What a great comeback!

<div>The month of July was marked by many memorable moments.<br><br>In Italy, Fellows from our Springboard program visited OverIT, a company specializing in the design of so-called "Field Service Management" software. It was an opportunity for them to discover technological careers and make connections as a group. The speech given by a former Fellow left a lasting impression on us all. Originally from Ukraine, this refugee woman discovered OverIT as a beneficiary of our Boost program last year. When she completed our program, OverIT offered her a professional internship. She encouraged the Fellows, who are in the same situation as she was a year ago, to never stop learning and never give up on their dreams.<br><br>In Greece and France, more than eighty women have completed our Pathway program. The cohorts celebrated the end of this adventure with the presentation of group projects. Some of the volunteers, who accompany the Fellows in their professional orientation or with language exchanges, were present and even contributed to some of the presentations.<br><br>August promises to be a quieter month, with many members of our association taking well-deserved vacations. Our agendas are already full for September, and we're looking forward to moving forward with our mission. Thanks to your drifts, the autumn will be a success for Sistech and the many refugee women we support.</div>

Highlights of early summer

<div>We haven't been bored these past three months at Sistech!!<br><br>
</div><div>In April, 24 beneficiaries of our programs, <em>the Fellows</em>, completed our employability program, Boost, in France. We celebrated their success at a networking event in Paris. On this occasion, the Fellows met tech recruiters. Internship and job interviews soon followed! You can read more about these Fellows and the companies whose attention they caught <a href="https://sistech.box.com/s/vgubghzov81g4iw3hvf1ymeud8f0gduj">in this press release</a>. Our team in France is already busy planning the next technical training program, Springboard, which starts in October.<br><br>
</div><div>But Sistech doesn't just organize programs in France. Our team in Athens recently celebrated the graduation of 20 Fellows who participated in Springboard. They now have a real knowledge of the tech industry. "Team Greece" is also preparing to welcome 45 new Fellows to the Pathway orientation program! Finally, our Milan-based team is in the middle of its own Springboard, with 20 Fellows. These women are full of courage and talent. Their ambition inspires our work.</div><div>
<br>And this work is possible, in part, thanks to captain donations! So thank you for your support. Don't forget that Sistech is authorized to receive the balance of the apprenticeship tax, and that your companies can pay it now on soltea.education.gouv.fr.  Feel free to send an e-mail to hello@sis.tech for more information.</div>

Refugee women impress recruiters in Paris with their talents

Help refugee women retrain for a career in Tech!

As skipper and founder of the Mer Connexion racing team, I'm delighted to be taking part in the 24h Pure Ocean challenge with our Class 40 to raise funds for research to preserve the Ocean.

people depend directly on the ocean for their livelihoods

innovative projects supported worldwide to find solutions to protect the ocean

Funding research to preserve the ocean

David Sussmann

Pure Ocean

<div>🌿 The Sundarbans, straddling India and Bangladesh, are home to the world's largest mangrove swamp. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this exceptional area of biodiversity also plays a vital role as a natural shield against storms and rising waters.</div><br><div>But today, this bulwark is crumbling. Pollution and climate change are accelerating the erosion of these mangroves, weakening mangrove roots and undermining the local communities that depend directly on this ecosystem.</div><br><div>🛠️ To restore and strengthen these mangroves, Sudipto Majumdar is deploying <strong>AquaMAP</strong>: a scientific project that combines silvopisciculture (aquaculture in the heart of the mangrove) and bio-inspired sediment capture techniques. The aim: to stabilize soils, encourage natural regeneration, and strengthen the resilience of local inhabitants in the face of climate disruption.</div><br><div>🌱 In this video, he introduces you to his project: https://youtube.com/shorts/e6MsHZgPeBk?feature=share</div>

Discover the brilliant minds behind our 2025 winners ➡️ AquaMAP

<div>What if bird droppings helped restore coral?</div><div>In <strong>Polynesia</strong>, researcher Hannah Epstein (University of Essex) is installing nesting boxes on atolls to encourage the return of seabirds, decimated by the introduction of rats. </div><br><div>Their presence is much more than a symbol: their droppings, rich in nutrients, feed the plankton and thus nourish the coral reefs. A natural and effective way of strengthening coral resilience to heat waves, by reactivating a biological cycle that is now broken. </div><br><div>🎥<em> Discover his project in 1 minute! </em>
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Discover the brilliant minds behind our 2025 winners: Birds On Sticks

<div>Dear Difteur-ses,</div><br><div>Each week, 15 million used clothes arrive in <strong>Accra</strong>, Ghana. Much of it ends up in the Korle lagoon, sustainably polluting beaches and destroying marine habitats, particularly those of turtles. With the acceleration of fast-fashion, this textile pollution is worsening and being dispersed into the ocean, amid general indifference. </div><br><div>Today, we still lack precise data on the extent of this pollution, preventing the implementation of effective measures to combat it. </div><br><div>Megan Schuknecht and Joseph Ayesu have decided to take action: with the <strong>ALT-Waste</strong> project, they are deploying an autonomous underwater robot to precisely map this underwater textile waste, currently invisible to public authorities. </div><div>This scientific data is essential for raising awareness among decision-makers and implementing effective solutions to protect marine biodiversity. </div><br><div>🎥 Discover their project in 1 minute! </div>

Discover the brilliant minds behind our 2025 winners: ALT-Waste

<div>Dear difteurs,</div><br><div>Algae <strong>absorb CO2, reduce water acidity, depollute and enable local economic development</strong>. That's why we've chosen to support the Regen Ocean Farms project. </div><br><div>
<strong>🧬</strong> This innovative project aims to develop a <strong>pilot model of sustainable seaweed farming</strong>, combining <strong>traditional know-how and biotechnological valorization</strong> to create an integrated and balanced system with the marine environment. On the coastlines of northeastern Brazil, this approach will <strong>regenerate marine ecosystems and create economic value for the benefit of 650 families,</strong> while preserving traditional know-how. </div><br><div>📽️ Discover Francimeire Costa, PhD in ecology and natural resources, researcher at the Bonfarto Kaj Konservado Institute (BKK), the bearer of this fascinating project, on video! </div><br><div>A big thank you to you, dear donors, for your invaluable support and donations ✨</div>

🌱 Did you know that algae are veritable ocean superheroes?

<div>Dear Difteur-ses,</div><br><div>We are pleased to unveil the <strong>winning projects of the Pure Ocean 2025</strong> call for projects. Innovative initiatives working to <strong>protect the ocean</strong>, <strong>preserve marine biodiversity</strong>, and <strong>resilience in the face of climate change</strong>. </div><br><div>
<strong><em>A round of applause for our 6 winners!</em></strong> 📣 </div><div>
<strong>👕 ALT-WASTE</strong>: mapping textile pollution to better combat it,</div><div>
<strong>🌱AQUAMAP</strong>: developing <strong>silvo-pisciculture</strong> to halt the erosion of <em>Indian</em> mangroves, great reservoirs of blue carbon, </div><div>
<strong>🦤 BIRDS ON STICKS</strong>: encourage the <strong>return of seabirds</strong> to fertilize <em>Polynesian</em> coral reefs, </div><div>🐟 <strong>FISH ON THE MOVE</strong>: optimize the <strong>connection</strong> of <em>Australian</em> marine protected areas to boost biodiversity, </div><div>
<strong>🦐</strong> <strong>RIMIOMICS</strong>: demonstrating the impact of <strong>mining</strong> on <em>Atlantic</em> abyssal ecosystems, </div><div>🪸 <strong>SYMBIOSWAP</strong>: testing the <strong>exchange of symbiotic algae</strong> for <em>Mediterranean</em> corals more resistant to climate change. </div><br><div>
<strong>Why this is a turning point</strong> ✨ </div><div>These projects pave the way for concrete, ambitious, nature-based solutions to the urgent challenges facing the ocean. Each has been selected by our scientific committee for its potential for innovation, its impact on practice and its contribution to ocean science. </div><br><div>A <strong>big thank you</strong> for your support!</div>

GRANDE ANNONCE 2025: Discover our 6 winning projects!

<div>Dear difteurs,</div><br><div>We are proud to share with you the highlights that marked 2024.</div><div>Thanks to you, we accomplished <strong>extraordinary things</strong>, united by our passion for the ocean.</div><br><div>✅ <strong>7 new scientific projects</strong> supported to protect the ocean.</div><div>✅ <strong>An unforgettable Gala</strong> bringing ocean lovers together for a magical moment.</div><div>✅ <strong>1st documentary</strong>: <em>Hidden Secret</em>, a dive into the heart of our projects.</div><div>✅ <strong>An ambitious European project</strong>: 1 year of collaboration to bring companies and scientists together.</div><div>✅ <strong>Meetings,</strong> as many meetings as great ideas that have emerged from them.</div><br><div>Thank you for your unwavering commitment ✨ </div><br><div>What a joy to have shared this year alongside you: scientists, patrons, sportsmen and women, friends, families, ocean enthusiasts...</div><div>
<strong>You are our strength and our inspiration. </strong>Let's continue together to protect our precious blue lung 💙</div>

A look back at 2024

<div>Our 6th call for projects attracted a record number of applications, testifying to the <strong>urgency</strong> of supporting ocean research. We saw significant participation from projects originating in the Global South, an area particularly affected by climate disruption.<br><br>
</div><div>💡 Every year, we are amazed by the scientific research projects proposed to preserve the ocean, each more innovative than the last! But we're also overwhelmed to see so many <strong>promising solutions that won't be able to be supported</strong>... That's why your support is crucial to turning these ideas into reality! <br><br>
</div><div>
<strong>Next step:</strong> 40 projects have been shortlisted to continue their application and submit their full dossier for evaluation by our scientific committee.<br><br>
</div><div>📅 <strong>Announcement of results on March 21, 2025.</strong>
</div><div>We look forward to discovering and presenting the 2025 projects to you! </div>

Call for Projects 2025: ocean research needs you!

<div>As well as being at the base of the marine food chain, plankton are also responsible for the biological carbon pump, absorbing a considerable amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide and transporting it to the depths of the ocean! <br><br>
</div><div>✨ <strong><em>But how does it work?</em></strong>That's where our new 2024 winner comes in! Microcean aspires to <strong>pick the mysteries of plankton</strong> to better understand its <strong>essential role in climate regulation</strong>! <br><br>
</div><div>🧬 Scientists will sequence the genomes of planktonic species to <strong>understand their complex interactions and impact on our environment</strong>. By describing the links between these microorganisms and human beings, they will be able to shed light on the challenges of the deep ocean and raise awareness of the importance of the diversity of marine ecosystems. <br><br>Find out more: https://www.pure-ocean.org/microcean/</div>

Do you know the role of plankton in climate regulation?

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<strong><em>Do you know what a gorgonian is? </em></strong>These jewels of the Mediterranean are elegantly shaped, arborescent colonies essential to marine biodiversity. They serve as nurseries for many fish, but also as life support, like trees, at all levels of these animal forests, thus contributing to the balance of an entire ecosystem.<br><br>🌡️ Unfortunately, increasing marine heatwaves are threatening these precious treasures. <strong>Faced with this new climatic reality, some gorgonians are resisting, while others are succumbing. Why this disparity?</strong>That's where the Buffer project comes in.<br><br>🧬 The Buffer team is embarking on a <strong>study of the genetic variability of red gorgonians in the Parc des Calanques. </strong>They will seek to understand the resistance mechanisms of these corals in the face of climate change.<br><br>🪸 Their goal: <strong>produce scientific, political and awareness-raising tools to guide targeted management of this ecosystem in a marine protected area</strong>. Because protecting gorgonians means preserving the future of an entire ecosystem. </div>

How can we protect red sea fans from the effects of marine heatwaves?

<div>Every year, <strong>tens of thousands of rays, sharks and cetaceans are</strong> victims of "by-catch", i.e. <strong>fished accidentally,</strong> without being targeted by fishermen. Caught in nets, these sensitive marine animals find themselves trapped with no hope of survival. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), up to <strong>40% of the world's fishing catch is by-catch.</strong> <br><br>
</div><div>❌ Worse still, a large proportion of these catches are not even <strong>reported.</strong> Artisanal fishermen, faced with technical and logistical difficulties, lack the means to report these incidents. <strong>The animals are therefore discreetly thrown back into the water, leading to their silent extinction.</strong> <br><br>
</div><div>✨ This is where the Bycatch &amp; Beyond project comes in. Its aim is to <strong>involve artisanal fishermen</strong> in monitoring endangered species in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. How? By providing them with <strong>low-tech</strong>, easy-to-use radio-GPS boxes. These devices will not only make it possible to <strong>report bycatch of skates and sharks</strong>, but also to create a network of fishermen-actors in the collection of conservation data. <br><br>
</div><div>📽️ Discover in video, Alifa Bintha Haque, Zoology researcher at the University of Dhaka, the bearer of this fascinating project! </div>

How can we combat additional fishing catches?

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<strong><em>Imagine</em></strong><em>,</em> at 3000 meters depth, in total darkness, hide marine species <strong>never discovered</strong>.... For in fact <strong>we know only 10% of marine species!</strong> <br><br>
</div><div>This is alarming, because without knowledge, it's difficult to protect effectively. Yet these ecosystems are threatened by global warming and seabed mining. <br><br><strong><em>Why is this so crucial? </em></strong>Each species plays an essential role in the delicate balance of our ecosystems. Like perfectly adjusted gears, if one of them were to disappear, it would cause a catastrophic domino effect, disrupting the entire ecosystem. By protecting marine biodiversity, we preserve the ecosystem services it provides, such as climate regulation, oxygen production, etc. <br><br>
</div><div>
<strong><em>But how do we discover and protect new, hitherto unknown species?</em></strong> Did you know that 76% of abyssal species are bioluminescent, using this ability to attract mates, hunt or defend themselves? <strong>That's where the Antarctic Biolum</strong> project comes in! <br><br>
</div><div>✨ This groundbreaking project, which we're backing with the support of our patrons, will <strong>use bioluminescence to attract species non-intrusively</strong>, paving the way for exciting new discoveries! </div>

How can we protect species we don't yet know?

<div>The scientific projects supported by Pure Ocean are selected through an annual international call for projects. Closing on November 15, 2023, the latest call for projects attracted the exceptional mobilization of researchers around the world, with a total of 173 projects submitted, more than double the number from the previous year. This increase once again testifies to the growing need for ocean research funding.<br><br>The 4 major themes of the Pure Ocean Challenges, aligned with the United Nations' 10 Ocean Decade Challenges, were largely covered, with - of note - a very large number of innovative projects on plastic pollution. The Pure Ocean scientific committee is currently evaluating the proposals before the winners are announced on March 21, 2024. </div>

Pure Ocean call for projects: an exceptional mobilization!  

<div>The proliferation of <strong>microplastics</strong> is a real scourge for wildlife, whether terrestrial or marine. In Australia, scientists from the MicroPow project are investigating the impact of plastic ingestion on the organs, tissues and cells of seabirds. An initial expedition to Lord Howe Island, far from civilization and human activity, led to a shocking discovery: a disease caused by plastics, <strong>plasticosis</strong>. This study shows that the accumulation of plastic particles in the birds' digestive tract causes a continuous abrasion of the animals' internal tissues. These tiny gashes never heal and deform the organs, with <strong>major repercussions on the animals' growth, reproduction and survival.</strong> <br><br>
</div><div>The publication of this work met with an international <strong>scientific and media echo</strong>: 193 secondary publications, 151 press articles, and 596 downloads of the full text on Twitter. And with good reason: most of the findings are applicable to human beings... The MicroPOW team is now back on the island! The aim of this second expedition is to analyze the chemical compounds involved, and their biological markers, to detect signs of plasticosis in birds as early as possible. <br><br>
</div><div>The scientific article: <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389423003722?via%3Dihub">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304389423003722?via%3Dihub</a> </div>

Impressive results for the MicroPOW project, supported since 2021 by Pure Ocean

<div>For better or worse, plastic materials have now completely invaded our societies. With no thought given to rationalizing their use and end-of-life, nearly 300 million tonnes of plastic waste are produced every year by human societies. Released into the environment, they break down into innumerable particles, which exchange pollutants with the medium through which they pass: plastic additives can be released into the environment, while other pollutants can, conversely, load up on the surface of microplastics, forming pollutant "rafts". These end up accumulating in the organisms that consume them, and notably in the end, us human beings!</div><div> </div><div>One of the six winning projects from the latest Pure Ocean call for projects, Plastidrugs, will characterize the presence of major pollutants (endocrine disruptors and antibiotics) and emerging ones (additives and synthetic drugs) both in seawater, but also specifically on plastic particles. This study will be carried out comparatively in the Bay of Brest, where these pollutants have been identified, and in the Bay of Santos (Brazil), where wastewater treatment infrastructures are deficient. The team will draw up recommendations for curbing plastic pollution and its indirect chemical effects on humans and biodiversity.</div>

The Plastidrugs project, selected by Pure Ocean's scientific committee and financed in part by funds raised by Captain Cause

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<strong>We were able</strong> <strong>to fund the MicroPow</strong> research project, the aim of which is to understand the impact of micro-plastics on the health of wildlife. This project determines the impact of micro-plastic ingestion on the organs, tissues and cells of seabirds on Lord Howe Island, Australia. Thanks to the funds raised, we were able to finance the researchers'<strong> 2nd expedition to the island</strong>, enabling them to sample 80 birds for tissue analysis. An international scientific publication came out of this, showing that plastic particles create inflammation, fibrosis and functional degradation of the birds' digestive organs and kidneys. <strong>These results, which can be extrapolated to human health, will be shared with political decision-makers</strong>. <br><br>In 2022, the La Goutte Bleue movement mobilized <strong>3800 people</strong> (corporate employees, citizens &amp; citizens) who took part in litter picks, at 95 sites all over France, with a collection result of<strong> 114,000 liters of waste</strong>, so much waste that won't go to pollute the ocean. Objective 2023: with La Goutte Bleue kits, mobilize 30,000 citizens across France for litter pick-ups and reach a target of 200,000 liters of waste collected before it pollutes the ocean or rivers.<br><br>Pure Ocean's Scientific Committee is currently reviewing the 71 innovative research projects from 27 countries that applied to its 2023 international call for projects. The five winning projects will be announced on March 21, 2023. <strong>One of these projects will focus on plastic pollution, and will be funded by funds raised by Captain Cause. </strong>
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MicroPow research project funded & 114,000 liters of waste collected

Mathieu Claveau and Mer Connexion join forces with Pure Ocean

To celebrate Laura's 30th birthday, take part in this fund-raising campaign. Every euro will be donated to Refuge GroinGroin, an association that rescues animals from mistreatment. It's a cause close to Laura's heart, and a gesture she'll be delighted to make. You'll receive your tax receipt after each donation, and can deduct 66% of your donation from your income tax. Thank you for your support!

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For Laura's birthday, we're collecting for the animals!

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Mathieu Claveau and Mer Connexion join forces with Pure Ocean

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