How two ESCP students turned the simple act of writing a letter into a cross-campus initiative bringing warmth and connection to those who need it most.
Sometimes, making a difference starts with something deceptively simple. For Emma Lestrade and Ladislas Labarthe, students in the Bachelor in Management (BSc) at ESCP, that something was a handwritten letter.
In their second year on the Madrid campus, the two friends launched 1 Lettre 1 Sourire at ESCP, a heartfelt initiative inviting students to write to elderly people in care homes. It began as a local project. Today, it's become a federated movement across ESCP’s campuses, reminding us that human connection is always worth the time it takes to write it down.
A shared motivation to give back
“I had known about 1 Lettre 1 Sourire for years,” Emma recalls, “but I never really understood the depth of what they did until Ladislas and I started discussing it seriously.” Ladislas had long been familiar with the French non-profit, knowing the founders well and having followed the project since the beginning.
But the idea to bring the initiative to ESCP came after Ladislas attended a dinner with the association’s founders – cousins who created the project in response to the loneliness crisis during the pandemic. “Listening to them talk gave me a spark,” Ladislas says. “I realised it was time for me to give some of my time to help others.” Together, he and Emma decided to bring 1L1S to ESCP’s Madrid Campus.
I realised it was time for me to give some of my time to help others.
ESCP BSc student
Writing, reading, reaching hearts
The idea was simple but powerful: write kind, thoughtful letters to elderly residents in care homes. With support from the School and peers, they installed letter boxes on campus, gathered messages, and organised visits to care homes.
“The first time I went to a retirement home, I wasn’t expecting to receive so much love,” shares Ladislas. “I was really moved by the warmth, the gratitude, and the smiles from the residents. That’s when I understood how meaningful all the work we do behind the scenes truly is.”
One visit stands out in Emma’s memory. “An elderly woman began to cry. She had no family and said she often felt forgotten. That exchange was a powerful reminder of the real impact the association can have on individuals’ lives.”
“To me, a letter is something tangible, a little keepsake you can hold, keep, and revisit,” Ladislas adds. “If my message brings even a bit of warmth into their day, then I’ve accomplished what I hoped for.”
Expanding the mission
While the initiative first took root on the Madrid campus, the duo didn’t stop there. Emma, who had spent eight years in Hong Kong, contacted one of her former French teachers and launched a writing event to spread the programme internationally.
They also began working on expanding the project to all ESCP campuses. “Our final and ultimate goal is to make this initiative a part of ESCP,” explains Emma. “We truly wish that other students will continue to spread letters.” The project is also now being extended to staff and professors, with the support of the ESCP internal communications and student experience teams.
Both students say the project changed them deeply. “This experience showed me that solidarity can be something very simple yet incredibly impactful,” says Ladislas. “I realised that a small gesture, like writing a letter, can create a real human connection and bring a lot of comfort.”
Emma agrees. “This experience has significantly shaped my understanding of solidarity and human connection. It has made me more conscious of the importance of supporting and valuing our elders, and of how meaningful even simple gestures can be.”
Their message to other students? Get involved, find an association, dedicate some time to people who need you. “At ESCP, we are lucky to have the flexibility to get involved,” says Emma. “Even a few hours a week can make a real impact.”
As Ladislas adds, “Anyone can make a difference, even with a little.”
This experience has significantly shaped my understanding of solidarity and human connection. It has made me more conscious of the importance of supporting and valuing our elders, and of how meaningful even simple gestures can be.
ESCP BSc student
Want to give back at ESCP?
- Drop a letter at the 1 Lettre 1 Sourire box on campus
- Join a care home visit to read letters aloud
- Collaborate with other clubs or start your own initiative
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