Solidarity in front of the global health crisis

Standing shoulder to shoulder with healthcare workers, charity associations and the cultural sector

From the very start of the public health crisis in 2020, and in all the countries where we operate, our teams acted quickly in showing their support for our individual, professional and corporate clients. This exceptional level of engagement hasn't wavered for over a year now. In France for example, after distributing state-guaranteed loans (PGE) to the tune of €21.6 billion, we are now proactively distributing participatory recovery loans (PPR).

In addition to supporting our clients, we also launched a global solidarity programme to help the wider society. Put in place in April 2020, here are a few of the achievements so far.

• Supporting medical research and healthcare workers: we contributed to the national programme "Tous unis contre le virus" (All united against the virus) launched in France by the Fondation de France, the Paris Hospitals organisation AP-HP and the Institut Pasteur. As such, we have financed 27 projects, 16 of which directly concern teams of healthcare workers, involving the purchase of medical equipment and the setting up of hospital call centres for example;
• Supporting vulnerable members of society: in response to the crisis, Societe Generale Foundation has enabled partnering charitable associations to continue their activities largely related to socio-educational support and professional insertion, but also exceptionally to housing, healthcare or the distribution of meals;
• Supporting the cultural sector and artists: as a leading sponsor of classical music, we have proactively provided grants to musical ensembles and projects, distributed emergency grants or offered exceptional grants via the Fédération des ensembles vocaux et instruments spécialisés or Fevis, an organisation representing independent musicians.
• Providing support around the world: in Eastern Europe and Africa, we have notably financed programmes run by Médecins Sans Frontières, CARE France and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, to support vulnerable communities and prevent the spread of the virus. In India, the Group's staff came together in aid of healthcare workers and hospitals on the "front line" of the crisis, and also to support the people’s needs, particularly in terms of food and hygiene.

Watch the stories from around the world told by Nabil, Katia, Théodore, Salah, Daniela and Rekha

• France - Nabil, Head of the Emergency and Intensive Care unit at Valenciennes Hospital in northern France 
• Madagascar - Katia, Coordinator for the charity CARE France
• France - Théodore, holder of a scholarship at the Conservatoire de musique in Paris
• France - Salah, reintegrating professionally with the help of Emmaüs Défi
• Romania - Daniela from the foundation Fundația Comunitară Timișoara 
• India - Rekha, Field Manager at the charity association Vidya