Events - 12 October 2026
A Week to Advance Girls’ Rights
From October 12 to 16, the Valérie Messika Foundation invited Messika employees to take part in a week dedicated to gaining a better understanding of the realities faced by millions of girls around the world, discovering the initiatives carried out alongside its NGO partners and, above all, giving everyone an opportunity to get involved. An exhibition, talks, meetings and solidarity initiatives shaped a week centred around sharing and collective engagement.
Raising Awareness to Better Understand
Throughout the week, a photography exhibition displayed across Messika’s two sites helped raise employees’ awareness of the challenges and inequalities that many girls around the world continue to face.
This awareness programme was complemented by a series of talks and discussions. Alongside Plan International France, Carol Mann, a sociologist specialising in gender issues and armed conflict, shared her expertise on the links between education, the protection of girls and the fight against child, early and forced marriage.
It was also an opportunity to learn more about UDAAN, a programme supported by the Valérie Messika Foundation, which works with 2,000 vulnerable adolescent girls in India to help them return to education and build greater independence.
One essential message emerged from these discussions: education is a powerful driver in enabling girls to shape their own futures and helping to reduce inequalities over the long term.
Creating Connections and Opportunities to Meet
The week also brought the projects supported by the Foundation to life, creating meaningful opportunities for people to meet and connect.
Messika employees spoke via video call with around fifteen adolescent girls supported by the UDAAN programme in India. Over the course of an hour and a half, they shared aspects of their daily lives and spoke about their families and aspirations. A simple yet meaningful exchange that highlighted the value of dialogue across cultures.
More than 20 employees also met Tina Kieffer, founder of Toutes à l’École, a partner of the Foundation since 2021. Through a film screening followed by a discussion, they gained a more tangible understanding of the role education can play in the lives of girls in Cambodia. The Valérie Messika Foundation notably supports a class of 26 Year 5 pupils there.
Giving Everyone the Opportunity to Take Action
The week was also an opportunity to turn commitment into action.
Together with Im’Pactes, employees learned more about the mentoring programme in which 8 Messika employees are already personally involved, supporting young people accompanied by the organisation.
A jewellery-making workshop led by a CSR ambassador also brought together 10 Messika employees, 9 young patients and their parents at Gustave Roussy hospital for a warm and creative moment together.
This collective engagement also extended to sport: 12 Messika employees took part in Plan International France’s Run for Girls, alongside 1,500 participants united in support of girls’ rights.
Bringing Our Collective Commitment to Life
The week highlighted the many different ways everyone can get involved: learning, meeting, sharing, passing on knowledge or giving their time.
It also gave employees an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the work carried out by the Valérie Messika Foundation, which currently supports 10 projects across 5 countries, benefiting more than 10,000 people.
Together, these encounters and initiatives bring a shared conviction to life: let us continue working together to advance girls’ education, protection and empowerment.