Promoting volunteering for a better world

ESCP partnered with Ibis RockCorps to promote a remarkable initiative: the "Tu donnes, tu reçois" project, inviting staff members and students to contribute 4 hours of their time to create a positive impact on the world, and in return, they won a concert ticket at l'Accor Arena Paris.

Driven by European values, ESCP’s mission is to inspire and educate business leaders who will impact the world. As European humanists, ESCP encourages its community to be part of a generation that can change the world, carrying and sharing our humanistic values of solidarity and kindness.

Volunteering is an act of civic and social commitment that is dear to ESCP DNA.
“That’s why, when Alan Nobili, ESCP Alumnus and Head of Engagement at RockCorps, approached me in November 2023 to present the project, I did not hesitate for a second to take it on! I assigned this project to Sandrine Kiefer, Head of Internal Communications. I was aware of her commitments as a volunteer with SOS Méditerranée. Then, I knew she would strongly uphold the values of solidarity”, says Marianne Condé Salazar, ESCP Brand & Coms Director.

Sandrine Kiefer, Head of Internal Communications at ESCP and Alan Nobili (and his son), Alumnus ESCP and Engagement Manager at RockCorps

A holistic education, encompassing personal development and social responsibility

Encouraging student and staff volunteering serves several objectives: community engagement, skills development, well-being, and building a culture of giving.
Indeed, volunteering:

• Fosters a sense of community and social responsibility among students and staff by allowing them to actively contribute to non-profit organisations or address broader societal issues.
• Offers valuable opportunities for students and staff to develop and enhance a range of skills, including leadership, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. These skills are transferable and beneficial both personally and professionally.
• Provides a sense of purpose and fulfilment, contributing to the overall well-being of students and staff.
• Develops a culture of giving and social responsibility.

Sandrine Kiefer promoted this initiative across all the five ESCP campuses: "It was important for me to make this project visible to everyone, to spread the value of solidarity, even though - for logistical reasons - only students and staff from the Paris campus could effectively participate."

The volunteer recruitment ran from February 8 to May 29. Projects started on March 6, every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday until May 29, the date of the concert. Volunteers have had the opportunity to choose the cause they really dear to among a wide range of projects: 215 projects in community centers, schools, parks, housing estates, homeless shelters, care homes and sports halls.

As ESCP Prof. Daniela Lup explains: “Research by the NCVO – National Council for Voluntary Organisations – shows that, compared to employees who volunteer privately, for causes that they choose, employees who volunteer via company schemes were less satisfied with their volunteering contribution. The lesson here is that, when setting volunteering or charitable schemes, companies need to give more voice to employees to decide what causes they want to contribute.”

In the framework of the Ibis RockCorps initiative, volunteers have had the opportunity to choose the cause they really dear to among a wide range of projects: 180 projects were available in partnership with associations such as la Croix-Rouge Française, Emmaüs Solidarité, ATD Quart Monde, Banlieues Climat, Les Restos du coeur, les Petits Frères des Pauvres… as well as local structures committed for instance to sustainability, diversity, inclusion, combating disabilities, and street harassment.

May 29, Accor Arena, Paris… Macklemore, Ronisia, and Franglish performed for all the volunteers involved in the project at ESCP and beyond.

Julien Zhang's experience as Intern at RockCorps

Julien applied to RockCorps because he found the concept both innovative and motivating.
“They encourage young people to volunteer in exchange for concert tickets, creating a positive dynamic that promotes community engagement and offers a unique cultural experience. This model effectively raises awareness and mobilises youth for significant social change.
I have personal experience in volunteering from my time in China, where I saw firsthand the positive impact on local communities and myself. The concept of RockCorps is inspiring, and I am eager to be part of such a meaningful project. Joining RockCorps would allow me to contribute to a significant cause and bring my experience and enthusiasm to a dedicated team.
During my internship, I worked with Audrey, Partnerships Manager. My days were mainly spent raising awareness among young people about our projects and trying to communicate our initiatives as much as possible with youth centers in the Île-de-France region and local missions. This experience allowed me to develop my skills in communication, project management, and partnership relations. I also coordinated a few volunteer projects.”

Ruth Diambile (Engagement), Audrey Joachim (Partnerships Manager), Julien Zhang (ESCP Bachelor student, intern as Engagement and Partnership Assistant) at RockCorps 

About RockCorps:

RockCorps is a global movement that believes in the power of music to engage young people in transforming their environment. Through an exclusively produced concert to thank volunteers for their time, RockCorps brings together individuals from all walks of life to work hand in hand towards a more united and compassionate society.
In 2024, RockCorps returns to France with Ibis as the main sponsor. The Ibis RockCorps programme recruited 15,000 young people this spring in Paris, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, Lille, Marseille, Nantes, and Lyon.

The ibis RockCorps project has been nominated in the category of World's Leading Sustainable Partnership at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards.