What we do
“What we really want to do is support community efforts aimed at creating a favourable environment for children, their families and their social circle.”
Claude Chagnon, President
Centraide conference lunch, Québec Chaudière-Appalaches
March 17, 2010
Our objectives
Through our contributions, we want to see greater importance attached to the concept of prevention, particularly in the area of early childhood development. Our goal is to contribute to the development of a sustainable culture of prevention.
We also work to ensure the sustainability of an approach from the ground up by supporting local mobilization initiatives that allow communities to express their needs at various levels and take appropriate action.
Finally, we seek to widen the consensus to facilitate the creation of joint actions and partnerships at the local, regional and national levels. Nothing can replace the proximity of real needs, the vision of parents and young people, the knowledge of practitioners, and the ability of local stakeholders to respond to families and take action.
Two intervention strategies
The Foundation uses two intervention strategies to fulfil its mission. It focuses on mobilizing local and regional communities and raising society awareness in three specific areas: early childhood development, healthy lifestyles and student retention.
Community engagement and mobilization
Community engagement or mobilization happens when a group of individuals from various sectors, organizations or constituencies in a given community agree to work together towards a common goal or on the same project with a view to sustainability.
These local initiatives are led by parents, advocates, organizations or local communities that are intent on responding to real needs, that share a common vision, and that engage the various organizations responsible or concerned in order to find the best ways to ensure – over the long term – that Quebec children get a good start in life in an environment that is favourable to their educational success.
This is the Foundation’s primary intervention strategy.
More about our community mobilization projects
Raising Society Awareness
Our mission also involves making society more aware of the importance of education and health in promoting educational success. We work to raise awareness by informing and mobilizing the Quebec general public as well as civil and corporate society.
The aim of this strategy, which complements the first, is to support community actions by mobilizing the population and influential members of society to create environments and conditions conducive to educational success.
More on our society awareness projects