Challenge Accepted Alongside Action Education

For the second consecutive year, ALTRAD Solidarity organized a connected challenge to engage all subsidiaries of the ALTRAD Group in a collective effort supporting the association Action Education. For more than 40 years, Action Education has worked to guarantee access to free, high-quality and inclusive education for vulnerable and marginalized populations, particularly women and children. Operating in 16 countries across Africa, Asia and Europe, the association relies on trusted local partners to carry out initiatives focused on education and early childhood protection, increasing school attendance, and promoting access to lifelong learning.

Over a period of 10 days, employees were invited to support the “Aakriti” project—literally meaning “Building the Future”—located in the state of Bihar in India.

Bihar is the poorest state in India and has one of the lowest literacy rates in the country, especially among women (53%). Children from disadvantaged families face significant learning challenges due to limited access to early childhood education and a lack of parental involvement. In fact, only 50% of students regularly attend school.

The “Aakriti” project works to remove these barriers by improving access to education from an early age through several key actions:

• Improving school readiness by strengthening preschool centers to facilitate the transition to primary school;

• Developing foundational reading and numeracy skills through adapted teaching methods and remedial classes;

• Training and supporting teachers in innovative pedagogical approaches to enhance the quality of education;

• Engaging parents and communities to encourage active participation in children’s education;

• Strengthening school governance through better-structured management committees and by promoting the role of women.

Through its support and the strong mobilization of ALTRAD Group employees, ALTRAD Solidarity has helped nearly 12,000 children gain access to early childhood centers or schools, while also strengthening the capacities of 120 teachers and 35 educators. In addition, this initiative has funded libraries and computer classrooms in several schools.

A big thank you to everyone involved. Together, we are building the paths of possibility.