The nonprofit projects registered with Friends of Fondation de France are multidimensional, with a holistic approach to the change they seek to bring to the world. Many are dedicated to supporting children and youth, with the conviction that investing in future generations is a cornerstone of all progress.
The case for investing in youth is both urgent and transformative. Young people under 25 represent over 40% of the global population, and the decisions we make today will shape the world they inherit tomorrow. Research shows that philanthropic investment in children yields the highest long-term returns—whether in education, health, or social development (UNICEF/World Bank).
Yet over 1 in 2 children globally lives in multidimensional poverty, and 1 in 7 live in extreme poverty (living on less than $2.15 per day). France is also highly conscious of this challenge, as 1 in 5 children there lives below the poverty line. Philanthropy is not simply about meeting needs—it’s about building a more just and sustainable future.
Key Takeaways
- Investing in youth is essential for long-term progress, with young people under 25 representing over 40% of the global population.
- Many children worldwide experience extreme or multidimensional poverty, making youth-focused philanthropy especially impactful.
- France’s approach to youth empowerment integrates culture, education, civic engagement, and social inclusion.
- The 25 highlighted nonprofits support youth through music, arts, intercultural programs, health care, education, tech training, and social development.
- These organizations address global needs—from digital literacy and medical care to intergenerational living and trauma support.
- Philanthropic giving through Friends of Fondation de France helps U.S. donors uplift children and young adults across diverse contexts worldwide.
Support Youth Empowerment Around the World
A French Approach to Empowering Youth
France has long recognized that youth development is tied to cultural inclusion, education, and civic life. Institutions like the INJEP (Institut national de la jeunesse et de l’éducation populaire) continue to study how French youth policy supports autonomy, participation, and long-term social inclusion.
Many of the youth-centered projects we support—whether through music, intergenerational living, or digital training—embody this philosophy: investing in young people is not a singular strategy, but a much larger foundation for societal cohesion and innovation.
In celebration of International Youth Day, this list of 25 organizations highlights our trusted, high-impact partners working to empower young people through education, the arts, health care, and social inclusion. Whether you want to support disadvantaged youth, promote equal opportunity, or help children thrive, these nonprofits are driving real change.
Music and the Arts
The Saint Barts Music Festival is dedicated to the promotion of classical music through its annual festival. Beyond concerts, the festival partners with local authorities to conduct workshops in schools and other institutions, providing young musicians and dancers with opportunities to learn, improve their skills, perform in front of an audience, and receive guidance from renowned experts.
Piano en Valois designs special educational concerts for schoolchildren. These interactive and engaging performances introduce children to classical music in an educational setting.
Fondation Crescendo con la Musica’s educational program has provided more than 4,000 underprivileged children in Mexico with musical training by qualified teachers, aiming to improve their development and prospects for a better future. Since 2016 Crescendo con la Musica has also collaborated with the “Art of Music Foundation”, seeking to transform the lives of young people in disadvantaged contexts through the learning and appreciation of music in Nairobi.
Vareille Foundation aims to fight against social inequalities by bringing classical musical to underprivileged children through the impactful “A Violon in My School”. Backed by neuroscience studies by the National Center for Scientific Research in France, this project strives to accompany socio-economically disadvantaged children during their crucial early development, helping them build cognitive skills, concentration, language acquisition, and motor coordination.
The Démos program, created and sustained by the Philharmonie de Paris, is a three-year classical music education program that provides children—many from underserved communities—with instruments, professional instruction, and opportunities to perform in orchestras. Combining artistic training with social support, the program fosters confidence, discipline, and academic engagement, with over 50% of participants continuing music after completion.
Health
Le Rire Médecin creates performances with specially-trained clowns to bring laughter and emotional relief to hospitalized children and their families. Performing more than 100,000 personalized visits annually across 20 hospitals, these professional performers collaborate with medical teams to help children cope with treatment, reduce anxiety, and restore a sense of joy in the hospital environment.
L’Aide aux Jeunes Diabétiques (AJD) supports young people living with type 1 diabetes through a comprehensive care model that goes beyond medical treatment. With educational stays, family workshops, and peer support networks, AJD equips children and teens with the knowledge, confidence, and psychosocial tools they need to manage their condition and live full, active lives.
Fondation Alain Carpentier ensures that children with heart defects in Vietnam—once without access to life-saving surgery—can receive open-heart operations regardless of financial means. By funding the Heart Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, the foundation helps save more than 1,200 children each year and supports the training of medical teams, while also advancing cutting-edge cardiovascular research in France.
Social Support
Treizième hOMme, the social arm of Olympique de Marseille, empowers children and youth through sports-based programs—from building neighborhood sports fields and distributing school supplies to hosting inclusive tournaments and helping sick or at-risk kids experience the joy and inspiration of the game.
Espace Saint Julien is an intergenerational community where children and young people are supported through nursery care, after-school programs, and L’Internat, a boarding school where boys aged 12 to 18 live and learn in a nurturing environment—gaining life skills through shared activities and meaningful connections across generations.
ARKWOOD Foundation supports philanthropic initiatives focusing on the integration and empowerment of disadvantaged children and young people through sports, art and culture. Each year, the foundation supports projects that promote the social inclusion of children and young adults through sports and the arts, while also providing relief for children facing illness and their families through hospital-based programs.
The Cheval Bleu nonprofit is exclusively dedicated to making children’s lives better through innovative equine therapies. Its programs support children with disabilities or behavioral challenges, helping them heal, connect, and thrive through meaningful interactions with horses.
Ambition Saint-Denis supports residents in one of France’s youngest and most diverse cities by expanding access to education, arts, and sports—helping them build confidence, express themselves creatively, and gain the skills they need to thrive in a vibrant, multicultural community.
Development
Gemmes carries out philanthropic activities in the field of education by working with young people aged 12 to 24 and their educators through sustainable development-oriented educational programs and workshops. Their mission is to help young people explore their potential and contribute actively and positively to society in order to build a more united world.
Founded in 2005 in Saint-Louis, Senegal, La Liane is dedicated to providing a safe haven and comprehensive support for vulnerable children and women facing violence and exploitation. Through shelter, education, healthcare, and economic empowerment, La Liane offers holistic, trauma-informed care that helps their young beneficiaries get the care and support their deserve.
Mekong Plus France facilitates access to education for young people through scholarships, providing second-hand bicycles for improved mobility, and offering computer classes for essential digital skills. They strive to include children facing difficulties in classrooms, ensuring that everyone has an equal chance.
CHAMS is a startup NGO aimed at bringing tech education and employment to refugee hosting zones, creating more opportunities for those often left behind. Bringing tech education and employment to refugees, CHAMS operates coding boot camps in partnership with top global companies like Amazon Web Services. The organization also launched 42 Amman, a tuition-free, peer-led coding school in Jordan, and aims to train 10,000 students by 2030 to foster integration, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion.
Passerelles Numériques (PN) is a French nonprofit organization, founded in 2006, operating in Cambodia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Madagascar. PN’s mission is to unlock the potential of disadvantaged youths by giving them access to education, and the means to acquire key soft and hard skills in the digital sector.
Education
Fondation Archery supports young talents from disadvantaged neighborhoods over the long term, so that they can achieve their ambitions. After identifying highly talented and engaged middle-schoolers from disenfranchised social backgrounds, the Archery foundation supports these laureates through mentorship, financial aid, and horizon-opening trips to global capitals until they finish their studies.
The Arcanys Early Learning Foundation (AELF), based in the Philippines, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering parents to nurture their children’s potential during the crucial early childhood development years. AELF provides free parent-child math coaching programs that give kids an early boost in math and logic development, opening doors to better opportunities for low-income families in Cebu City and beyond.
The Ecole du Domaine du Possible, a kindergarten through middle school, is an experimental school designed to prepare students for the challenges of today and tomorrow. Located on a working farm near Arles, the École du Domaine du Possible offers a hands-on, inclusive education where students learn permaculture, agroecology, equine science, and the arts alongside core academic subjects, in a multilingual, multi-age setting that emphasizes cooperation, curiosity, and real-world experience.
Mille et un mots (One Thousand and One Words) works to prevent early social inequalities by empowering parents of preschool-aged children with reading and language development tools. Based on research-backed methods first developed in the U.S., the program has successfully doubled the amount of time parents spend reading with their infants (ages 0–12 months)—a critical window for language acquisition—while also fostering stronger sociability and engagement in young children.
Founded in 2004 under the aegis of Fondation de France, Fondation Jeannine Manuel is dedicated to promoting international understanding through bilingual education. Supporting inquiry-driven science education, natural language acquisition, and social-emotional learning across preK-12 Jeannine Manuel schools in Paris and Lille, the foundation funds scholarships to ensure students can attend regardless of their background.
EVOCAE supports young people in France who have earned their high school diploma but lack a clear path forward—offering an intensive, 6- to 8-month post-baccalaureate program that helps students build confidence, identify career goals, and prepare for academic success. With a whole-student approach grounded in care, structure, and high expectations, EVOCAE equips vulnerable youth with the tools and mentorship they need to reengage with education and access meaningful professional opportunities.
These 25 organizations—diverse in mission, method, and geography—share a common purpose: to uplift, protect, and empower the next generation. At Friends of Fondation de France, we are proud to champion this work and to connect U.S. donors with trusted partners creating meaningful, lasting change. Explore tax-deductible giving to France-based charities
Want to help us support youth-focused French nonprofits? Make a donation or explore current projects today.
