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SKEMA students champion animal welfare: HOPE wins Youth Prize at ChangeNOW summit
In the heart of the Grand Palais Éphémère in Paris, amid the buzz of the ChangeNOW summit, a group of SKEMA students gave a voice to those who have none: animals. Their commitment, through the Protection Animale mission of the HOPE Lille association, and with the active support of SKEMA Business School, was recognised with the Youth Prize for HOPE, awarded by the Jane Goodall Institute France and funded by the Yves Rocher Foundation.
Animal welfare has become an increasingly important issue for the SKEMA student community. A testament to this, in September 2024, students in Lille launched a dedicated initiative for vulnerable animals. Their project was selected and awarded through a prize independently run by the Jane Goodall Institute, but hosted within the broader framework of the ChangeNOW summit. “Presenting our project in this context, in front of a committed audience, was a moment of real pride,” said Candice Béal, an active member of HOPE Lille.
The Youth Prize celebrates young people committed to tangible action for the planet. Chosen among more than sixty student associations, HOPE Lille received tailored mentoring from Galitt Kenan, Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute France, to help structure and expand its mission.
A mission rooted in real-world impact
Launched in September 2024, the mission supports vulnerable animals through local action: street outreach distributing food and supplies, visits to care homes with therapy dogs to maintain emotional bonds with elderly residents, and, soon, a temporary foster care programme for cats. The latter is being developed in partnership with the Lille-based organisation L’Arbre à chat. The initiative aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and safeguard biodiversity. “We were only recently created, and this award represents genuine hope for the future of our mission and its development,” Candice Béal added.
Funding a growing cause
On stage in Paris, she received a wooden trophy engraved with the HOPE logo — a symbol of committed, grassroots engagement. The €5,000 grant will strengthen existing initiatives and pave the way for new partnerships.
