Community service

At Florimont, solidarity stands as one of our core values, deeply rooted in our Salesian heritage. From an early age, we encourage our pupils to commit themselves in service to their community or to a cause close to their hearts.

In recent years, to maximise the impact of these initiatives, the Institut has chosen to channel its collective efforts into a major annual project in support of a local charity. In parallel, other  actions, led by students or staff members, also emerge throughout the year. These may respond to humanitarian emergencies or be inspired by projects they have personally identified or initiated.

As St Francis once said: “Noise does no good, and good makes no noise.

Students, staff, the Florimont Parents’ Association and friends of the Institut have all united in support of a single cause, serving a local organisation. Following our collaboration with the Aigues-Vertes Foundation, our efforts in 2024 focused on working hand in hand with the food bank Partage, whose needs—right on our doorstep—remain substantial.

Whether through donating the proceeds of the Florimont Christmas Market organised by the Parents’ Association, repurposing and delivering 30 MacBooks on behalf of the Institut, collecting food items, or raising awareness through poster campaigns, the entire Florimont community has demonstrated its wholehearted commitment.

Qu’il s’agisse de reverser la recette du marché de Noël de l’Association des Parents d’élèves de Florimont, de reconditionner et livrer 30 MacBook de l’Institut au profit de bénéficiaires, d’organiser des collectes de denrées ou encore de sensibiliser é cette cause en créant des affiches, toute la communauté florimontaine s’est engagée.

In 2024, Secondary2 students recovered and repaired 40 bicycles, which were donated to the Geneva Hospice Général. These bikes were distributed to refugees at the Seymaz centre, where students also organised bimonthly repair workshops alongside the beneficiaries.

Since its inception in 2022, the Up’Cycle project has enabled the donation of over 500 bicycles—a testament to sustained student engagement and solidarity.

This ambitious initiative was honoured in June 2022 with the Platinum Jubilee Award in the “Volunteering” category—a distinction created to mark Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Jubilee.

Students, staff and parents regularly join forces to respond to urgent needs, sometimes just beyond the gates of our campus. Several initiatives undertaken in 2024 illustrate this shared commitment: Secondaire 2 students supported Caritas Geneva by organising a winter clothing drive and raising awareness among their peers about sustainable sorting practices, ultimately collecting over 70 bags of clothing. In Primary, 7ème classes organised a book collection and resale in support of the charity Action Education during the Institut’s Book Fair. Meanwhile, students from the Cycle organised bake sales throughout the year in support of Terre des Hommes, an organisation dedicated to protecting and promoting children’s rights.

Many other charities benefit from the dedication of the Florimont community, whether through collections, fundraising campaigns or direct involvement by students, particularly within the framework of CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) projects carried out as part of the IB programme.