In Monaco, CFM Indosuez has made prevention and solidarity long-term commitments. From Pink October to the Coussin Cœur Challenge, as well as its support for local charities, the bank is rolling out a range of practical initiatives. A round-table discussion with Virginie Bernard, Head of CSR Policy at CFM Indosuez; Valérie Barilaro, Chair of the Écoute Cancer Réconfort charity; Olfa Bouachir, Chief Executive of AMAPEI; Bénédicte Chrétien, Chief Executive of CFM Indosuez; and Virginie Aubrey, Senior Banker – Strategic Clients at CFM Indosuez.
We have been taking part in Pink October for several years, and this initiative is now firmly embedded in the life of the bank. Wearing the pink ribbon has become a natural gesture, adopted by our staff and receptionists, which makes our commitment visible to our customers.
We also organise awareness-raising workshops to highlight the importance of prevention and the right habits to adopt.
Pink October is therefore a key moment for collective action, centred on awareness, prevention and solidarity.
We already had links with Pink Ribbon Monaco through various awareness-raising campaigns. In particular, we distributed small boxes of sweets accompanied by a QR code providing access to a self-examination guide.
October is a key month for the charity, notably featuring the illumination of several of Monaco’s iconic buildings and the organisation of its annual gala, which helps to raise funds.
As our discussions progressed, we also learnt about all the initiatives run by Pink Ribbon Monaco to promote women’s health, going beyond the prevention of breast cancer alone. We therefore wanted to take things a step further by becoming a sponsor, so that we could support them in the long term and help ensure the sustainability of their prevention and awareness-raising work.
The heart-shaped cushions are intended for women who have undergone a mastectomy at the CHPG. They provide real comfort following the operation. We are familiar with the Écoute Cancer Réconfort charity and wanted to respond to its challenge by donating these cushions to patients.
The partnership with AMAPEI came about quite naturally, as it has a sewing workshop within its sheltered workshop. Its team was particularly sympathetic to this cause and wanted to volunteer their time to make the cushions, whilst we covered the cost of the raw materials. What is particularly wonderful about this initiative is seeing their talents and expertise put to use to help others who are facing health challenges.
The ‘Coussin Cœur’ Challenge illustrates the power of a collective approach: everyone contributes according to their means and skills, as part of a useful, practical and meaningful initiative. It also helps to forge links between different organisations in the local area.
We frame our initiative within a broader period, from September to November, in order to address various health issues and promote prevention over the long term.
In September, the ‘Septembre en Or’ campaign enables us to raise awareness of paediatric cancers, in collaboration with the Monaco Scientific Centre – with whom we partner – and the Flavien Foundation. This period allows us to meet researchers, engage with representatives from the Flavien Foundation, and raise awareness of these issues amongst our staff and customers.
In October, we continue with the ‘Pink October’ campaign: wearing pink ribbons, providing information materials at our various customer service points, sharing a QR code linking to a breast self-examination guide, and organising awareness-raising workshops.
Finally, in November, we support Movember by wearing blue ribbons and raising awareness about men’s health.
Our aim is to create regular opportunities to discuss health, encourage screening and highlight the prevention and care services available in Monaco.
As a socially responsible company, we also wish to support local organisations working on these issues on a daily basis and raise the profile of their work, both amongst our staff and our customers.
We had already run workshops specifically for women and then for men. We then wanted to create a mixed-gender format, enabling us to address the most common cancers affecting women and men, as well as screening options, in a shared setting accessible to everyone.
Health concerns us individually, but also collectively. Raising awareness can affect each person personally, but also their spouse, partner or a family member. By bringing participants together to discuss these topics, the discussions help to break down certain taboos.
Our aim is to make prevention part of everyday conversations, by giving our staff the tools to better understand the importance of screening and to identify the right people to talk to.
It is this commitment to raising awareness, supporting local initiatives and fostering solidarity in our region that gives real meaning to our CSR commitment.
Photo : Virginie Bernard, Responsable de la politique RSE de CFM Indosuez, Valérie Barilaro, Présidente de l’association Ecoute Cancer Réconfort, Olfa Bouachir, Directrice Générale de l’AMAPEI, Bénédicte Chrétien, Directrice Générale de CFM Indosuez, Virginie Aubrey, Senior Banker – Strategic Clients, CFM Indosuez.
