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Every year, the Humanitarian Student Association (Bureau de l’Humanitaire – BDH) of IÉSEG Paris, made up of 21 members divided into three distinct teams (Events, Sponsorships and Communication), mobilises around an emblematic cause: the Téléthon (a large-scale annual charity event in France that raises funds to support medical research and improve the lives of people affected by rare genetic diseases). Through this unifying event, the student association reaffirms its commitment to local humanitarian action by bringing together several hundred students around a shared objective.

A year-round commitment

Created to enable students to engage concretely in solidarity-based initiatives, the Humanitarian Office carries out actions across several areas throughout the year. “There are many ways for us to take action,” explains Maëlle GUENEGAN, a fourth-year student in IÉSEG’s Grande École Program and Vice-President of the BDH.

While the Téléthon is the association’s flagship event, the BDH also organizes year-round initiatives known as “Bénévoles d’un Jour” (Volunteers for a Day). These include blood donation drives, visits to nursing homes, food collections for the Red Cross, and clothing drives for Secours Populaire. The primary goal of the Humanitarian Office is to make humanitarian engagement accessible to everyone through one-off, high-impact actions, while promoting local solidarity.

“These types of initiatives don’t take much time but allow students to get involved in local humanitarian work. In France, there are many ways to engage in humanitarian action close to home, contrary to what people might think!” says Maëlle.

“We designed a fun exercise for a negotiation course in the Master’s program in Commercial Engineering, for the benefit of Secours Populaire. Students had to leave campus in teams to approach passers-by and try to trade a pen for a larger object, then continue exchanging items until they obtained the biggest object possible. This allowed them to practise negotiation skills while supporting a good cause. They were amazing… they managed to bring back scooters and children’s toys! We then collected the items and donated them to Secours Populaire,” explains Maëlle.

The Téléthon: a historic and unifying event

Held every year in early December, the BDH Téléthon has become a must-attend event in IÉSEG’s student life. “It’s an event we look forward to every year, just like the school’s major highlights,” says Maëlle.

Students are invited to gather in the evening to run, walk or scoot along a track located at Les Invalides in Paris. Each lap generates a €3 donation to the Téléthon, thanks to the support of the main partner, BNP Paribas, which has been backing the event for several years. Other sponsors, such as Red Bull, also contribute to its success. “The event is open to all students and alumni, whether they are athletic or not. Everyone goes at their own pace and completes as many laps as they wish… there are no real rules. Students usually come in groups of friends to enjoy a great time together in a friendly atmosphere, while supporting a charitable cause they care about. It’s not a competition, but rather a moment of sharing,” Maëlle explains.

On December 6, 2025, IÉSEG students and alumni came together and raised €21,312 for the Téléthon, completing a total of 7,104 laps, all in a warm and supportive atmosphere.

Cécile PERRIER, communications manager for the BDH, adds: “The success of the event is mainly due to student mobilisation, but also to the involvement of other student associations. We work closely with them to promote the event, particularly on social media, to give it maximum visibility and maximise participation. Instagram stories, dedicated visuals, profile pictures… everything is designed to encourage people to take part. The goal is to raise as much money as possible for the Téléthon!”

On the day of the event, IÉSEG Paris’ audiovisual association, PIB, captures the moment by producing photo and video coverage on site.

In the years to come, the Humanitarian Office aims to strengthen its existing initiatives while further developing the “Bénévoles d’un Jour” programme, with the goal of offering two actions per month. New ideas are also in development, such as solidarity collections organised as inter-association challenges.

The Humanitarian Office (BDH): an association to develop professional skills

As highlighted by Maëlle and Cécile, beyond its social and humanitarian mission, the BDH enables its members to develop valuable skills for their future professional lives.

“Being part of the Humanitarian Office has taught me a great deal professionally. As Cécile’s predecessor in the Communication team, I was able to develop knowledge related to social media communication, as well as more technical skills such as video editing. Since becoming Vice-President, my role has allowed me to develop management skills. Of course, my involvement in student life also helps me feel more integrated into everyday school life.”

Maëlle GUENEGAN, Vice-President of the Humanitarian Office, Paris

“Discovering humanitarian missions while building connections with students who share the same values is, for me, the true added value of this association. Developing my organisational skills by working as part of a team and creating concrete, meaningful projects is what the Humanitarian Office brings me. From a professional standpoint, my role in the Communication team allows me to directly apply the lessons learned at IÉSEG. Managing social media, creating visuals, producing video content, and coordinating with other associations or partners are all tasks that echo the courses taken in the Grande École Program.”

Cécile PERRIER, communications manager, BDH Paris