Réseau ETRE is the 2024 laureate of the Degroof Petercam Foundation Award

Brussels, April 16^th, 2024 – Réseau ETRE wins the sixth edition of the Degroof Petercam Foundation award. Based in France, Réseau ETRE (Les Écoles de la Transition Écologique) is a non-profit organization offering free training courses to young people facing difficult circumstances through a network of schools. As laureate, the initiative benefits from a one-million-euro grant, spread over five years, as well as access to the Foundation’s expertise and network. Alongside Réseau ETRE, the Foundation is also rewarding five other organizations with a 30,000-euro grant each: Acta Vista (FR), Hello Europe (EU), Wake up Café (FR), Sea Ranger Service (NL), and Social Builder (FR).

Established fifteen years ago, the Degroof Petercam Foundation champions a vision of a sustainable and inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive through their job. The Degroof Petercam Foundation supports the most innovative organizations that contribute to sustainable employment.Through its main program, the DPF Award, the DP Foundation selects and finances the most ambitious systemic social innovations for sustainable employment across Europe. Annually, a winning organization receives a donation of one million euros and tailored support for five years. The Degroof Petercam Foundation is one of the ten largest foundations in Belgium.

Réseau ETRE is the 2024 winner of the award. The first ETRE school (Les Écoles de la Transition Écologique) was founded in 2017, and developed into a network of schools in 2020, the current Réseau ETRE. Through this school network, the French non-profit organization offers free training courses to young people facing difficult circumstances. These courses equip them with practical skills relevant to the ecological transition. The ETRE schools tackle a dual challenge, addressing both social and societal needs. By acquiring the necessary soft and hard skills for the ecological transition, young individuals can discover possible career paths while actively contributing to shaping the world of tomorrow. 

Frédérick Mathis, Co-founder of Réseau ETRE:
​“It’s a great honor to be granted this award by The Degroof Petercam Foundation. With their support we will be able to launch three initiatives that are currently beyond our scope. We will enhance existing training organizations throughout Europe by seamlessly integrating green skills into their programs. Furthermore, we aim to establish the ETRE certification, and lastly, we are excited to be broadening our network at European level.”

Marie Melikov, Senior Program Manager of the Degroof Petercam Foundation:
​“We are delighted to provide financial and human support to Réseau ETRE, a social initiative that shares our commitment to creating a fairer and more inclusive society. Our core mission remains steadfast: to support the most innovative organizations dedicated to sustainable employment.”

Xavier Van Campenhout, Chairman of the Degroof Petercam Foundation:
​“Réseau ETRE simultaneously addresses two challenges in an effective way by empowering youngsters in precarious situations while filling the skills gap for the necessary ecological shift. Our support to this initiative reflects our belief in the transformative impact of employment, which forms the cornerstone of our mission.”

The Degroof Petercam Foundation is awarding its prize for the sixth consecutive year. Previous winners are Chemins d’avenirs (2023), Activ’Action (2022), Ticket for Change (2021), Bayes Impact (2020) and DUO for a JOB (2019). The support of the Foundation has enabled these initiatives to develop and expand in Belgium and beyond. The Foundation used to operate in Belgium, France and Luxembourg, but as from 2023 has opened its main program to EU countries.