Our refugee assistance programme
Alongside our core work with young people and the environment, the SNCF Foundation runs a dedicated programme for refugees. Launched in 2019 in response to world events, it’s setting new goals for welcoming refugees into France’s national life.
Why we work with refugees
SNCF Group assists refugees because they’re a vulnerable group—and because they frequently travel on trains and along tracks.
How it works
SNCF employees volunteer to meet twice a month with refugees through our partner non-profits. This gives newcomers the opportunity to interact with locals, to learn French cultural codes and above all to practice the language.
Renewed urgency in 2021
When war broke out in Ukraine, an emergency fund was set up to expand the programme. “To create a sustainable future, all of us must build community together, including newcomers to our country”
Laëtitia Gourbeille, Managing Director, SNCF Foundation
Learning the language and finding a job
Our support for refugees still focuses on the same 2 priorities: getting their first job and learning French. “There’s no real impact unless refugees receive personalized, in-depth support,” says programme head Elodie Calloc’h.
A special focus on young people
We give special attention to young people, first because they are at the heart of the Foundation’s work, but also because under-35s account for 80% of refugees in French assistance programmes.
€1.5M
We’ve allocated €1.5 million over 3 years to support and promote new non-profits
10 days
SNCF employees can donate 10 working days to our skills-sharing programme
1,000 refugees
We’ve helped 1,000 refugees build new lives in France
Renewing our network of partners
The ecosystem of stakeholders launched by the SNCF Foundation now consists of 8 non-profits. Learn more about them.
Kodiko
Kodiko works with 25 young people for 6 months each year in Tours, Rennes, Strasbourg and the Paris region. This programme includes coaching, simulations and meetings in business settings.
Terre 2 Cultures
Terre 2 Cultures helps refugees settle in by offering them jobs in agriculture. Participants are supported throughout the process, from first contact with the farmer to housing and administrative formalities.
Tous tes Possibles
Tous tes Possibles runs a jobs initiative, Cap vers l’emploi, and a special refugee programme in the Dijon area, in partnership with the University of Burgundy.
The Human Safety Net
In Saint-Denis near Paris, The Human Safety Net has created an dedicated incubator for refugees who want to start a business. It offers personalized assistance to 15 refugees over a 9-month period.
The Red Cross
The French Red Cross has a refugee programme specifically for unaccompanied minors—a large group in genuine distress. This programme addresses urgent needs, in particular in Northern France near the Dunkirk refugee camp.
La Terre en partage
La Terre en Partage places asylum seekers in a group home grounded in solidarity, environmental protection, and contact with local residents. The residence also offers benefits such as intensive French lessons and an organic farming operation.
The MEnS Network
MEnS offers exiled students the opportunity to begin or resume higher education. During the 3 years from 2023 to 2025, they provide practical solutions to help newcomers enrol and succeed in university.
DUO for a JOB
DUO for a JOB runs an intergenerational mentoring programme that helps refugees find a place in society and the workforce. During the period 2022-2024, they aim to support 1,100 young immigrant refugees in Paris, Marseille and Lille.