Since 2011, Solidaritrips have given employees of Maisons du Monde and its logistics branch, Distrimag, the chance to go on the trip of a lifetime. Each year, 16 people are selected to embark on a volunteering trip and take part in one of the solidarity projects we support around the world. The programme, created in conjunction with the partner NGO, allows employees to get involved in the organisation’s activities and immerse themselves in the day-to-day life of the local people.
This once-in-a-lifetime experience gives Maisons du Monde employees the opportunity to build a strong relationship with the project beneficiaries and become ambassadors for these projects and for our mission to protect forests and trees on their return.
“For two weeks, I lived shoulder to shoulder with the Kichwa communities and took on their everyday tasks in planting trees. I couldn’t have had a more amazing human experience, even if I had paid for it myself! “
Mathieu Costa, Store Manager at Maisons du Monde Toulouse Blagnac and participant in the 2019 Solidaritrips programme with Ishpingo in Ecuador
Solidaritrips form part of a more global community commitment programme, Solidariteam, which includes Solidaridays. These community days give Maisons du Monde employees the opportunity to spend some of their time carrying out a local volunteering activity with our partners. These partner organisations hold a day for volunteers, talking to them about what they do, and helping them to take part in an activity, such as litter picking on World Cleanup Day, tree planting with MiniBigForest, and many more.
Want to escape? Check out our Flickr albums to see photos of our latest Soldaritrips with Ishpingo in Ecuador and Nebeday in Senegal!
In addition to raising awareness of projects, Solidaritrips were designed to create transparency with employees on what we do. All our employees indirectly finance the projects we support on the ground thanks to their contribution to the company’s revenue and/or collecting donations in the round up at the register scheme.
Maisons du Monde Foundation contributes to the protection of forests and trees all over the world through two means of action: the financial support and assistance for associations on a medium/long term basis and the introduction of programmes to improve environmental awareness.