This year, and, for the 3rd time, Societe Generale supported Passerelles numériques’ actions with the Asia Pacific Bike Ride, a two-day cycling event. Let’s seize this opportunity to thank them warmly and to highlight our strong partnership.
It all started 4 years ago. PN and Societe Generale align so naturally on our goal to alleviate poverty leveraging on education and fostering job readiness that Societe Generale Foundation financially supports Passerelles numériques’ Vietnam projects and students since 2014.
In 2015, another partnership emerged between Passerelles numériques and Societe Generale Singapore, driven by Pascal Lambert, Group Country Head for Singapore and Head of South East Asia and India at Societe Generale, and our bonds became even stronger! This new partnership intends to support Passerelles numériques Vietnam (PNV) with skill sponsorship: Societe Generale Singapore’s employees share their know-how with PN Vietnam. Each year for the past 3 ones, 4 volunteering missions were organized to give thorough 2-day presentations on various topics to students (including of course banking world but also HR topics).
In 2016, Societe Generale Singapore offered to include PN among the beneficiaries from the Asia Pacific Bike Ride: an international charity event dedicated to raise funds and awareness for Societe Generale’s local charity partners in Asia. Through this event, the Bank’s staff support community-activities by raising funds for their local charity partners. Employees from across the region participate in a 2-day bike ride cycling event gathering enthusiastic bike riders across different offices to cycle through stunning landscapes while making an impact to the community and in particular to PN’s mission!
This is how in 2016 Societe Generale Singapore bikers first cycled to support PN in the Blue Mountains (Australia) and raised USD 4,997. This edition was followed by Chiang Mai in 2017 (Thailand) where they were able to raise USD 22,828 thanks to their commitment and efforts!
The entire team in Australia in 2016 (136 riders)
Bikers 2016
Olivia Chen | Axel Foucault | Olivier Godin | Veronika Kho | Arnaud Lhoste
Part of the team riding for PN in Thailand in 2017
Bikers 2017
Mukta Arya | Maxime Chigot | Jun Fok | Raymond Khoo | Pascal Lambert | Edward Lee | Antoine Molho | James Taylor
From 26 to 28th of October 2018 not only did 8 bikers from Societe Generale Singapore once again committed to wet their shirt to support Passerelles numériques but across the Asia Pacific region, 33 employees joined their efforts to support and promote this fundraising campaign!
Bikers 2018
Mukta ARYA | Freddy BELLON | Brice CARAYOL | Hugues DELASNERIE | Valérie DEPAUX | Dzung HO MY | Joëlle JAMET | Mark KEENAN | Raymond KHOO | Jack KO | Pascal LAMBERT | Nikolay MIKOV | Kornel NEMETH | Christina NICKOLOVA | Alban PIRONNET | Sadia RICKE | Damien SERS | Nithin SHETTY | Matthieu SIMERAY | Michel de SURY | Fu Long TING | Hoan TRAN | Severine VAILLY | Chung Chui WAN | Shiyang WANG | Songlu WANG | Charles WONG | Ya (Rebecca) XU | Keslie YUHAN YIN | Amanda (Chenfeng) ZHANG | Ling ZHOU | Magali ZYLBERBERG
This 2018 edition was quite special as it happened in Da Nang, city where PNV operates! It was the promise of wonderful atmosphere with PNV’ students cheerfully supporting the ride, providing water to the bikers at the rest points, performing during the dinner (traditional dance, songs…) sharing their testimonies with Societe Generale employees and even riding for 10 of them!
One of the riders shares her experience during the Bike Ride:
1. How and why did you decide to ride for PN?
It appears natural that Vietnam being the hosting country, I wanted to support a local charity. In addition, Societe Generale is really highly engaged in supporting Passerelles numériques.
2. How did you prepare yourself for this exciting ride?
It was my first bike ride. I didn’t prepare it particularly but I tried to go on a more regular basis to the gym.
3. Can you share details about your ride?
It was a very exciting and satisfying experience, both on personal and professional aspects. But physically, it was not that easy mainly due to the heat and humidity, in particular after 11 am. There was also a lot of traffic on the roads.
4. What do you think about Danang city?
It was my first visit. I really enjoyed it and I wish to come back for holidays with my family. People are very nice and welcoming. And the city is really the city of the lights!
5. Can you share details about what you have discovered during the activities with PN staff and students?
It was good to have PN staff and students engaged in the event as we were able to discuss with them directly. They are all very committed. It was a real pleasure to meet with them.
6. Would you consider doing it again next year?
Sure!
7. What is your best memory?
When I passed the finish line!
And let’s one of our students, who rode during the event, share also his impression about the event, what he learned and discovered:
1. What do you think about the event?
I think this is a meaningful event because it strengthens the relationship between Societe Generale and PN Vietnam. This event was also a great experience for me to exchange with participants from different countries and improve my English communication skills.
2. What do you think about Societe Generale supporters?
They were very enthusiastic, friendly, and confident. They were very supportive during the road and gave us a lot of energy to finish the ride. This was a good opportunity for us to speak to them and learn from them.
3. Share some details about what you discover during the activity?
During the cycling race, I discovered a lot of beautiful landscapes near my city. We really enjoyed watching the scenery on the road and realized how beautiful Danang is. We also went to some interesting places such as My Son sanctuary and Hai Van pass.
4. What is your best memory?
My best memory is cycling and talking with a lot of foreigners. My English is not good, but they tried to talk to me and encouraged me to speak. I felt very supported by the Societe Generale volunteers, and it’s probably a nice memory for me.
Thanks to the determination and efforts of our 33 riders, and thanks to the generosity of over 760 contributors, the amount of USD 47,063 (EUR 41,101) has been collected to help cover the costs (rent) of the dormitories of the 130 students of PN Vietnam for two years!
Passerelles numériques is proud of this great partnership with Societe Generale and thankful for this amazing support received from their 33 employees and donors across the region! This collective cycling success will help Passerelles numériques break the poverty cycle in a sustainable way!