“Let’s fight together against violence!” – the new awareness campaign of the IÉSEG support unit, designed by students

Our School

04/15/2022

In its letter of commitment published in November 2020, IÉSEG committed to fight against all forms of violence and discrimination by relying on 4 axis: informing, protecting, empowering and getting involved. On this occasion, a support unit was created to welcome and accompany students in situations of violence, harassment or discrimination.

Despite positive feedback from the students that the support unit has helped, a recent survey showed that this support and reporting system was still not well known within the School. IÉSEG has therefore chosen to involve its students by offering them, thanks to the financial support of the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, to create the next poster and video campaign promoting this unit.

The students were thus able to express their creativity in order to create the awareness-raising materials that will be distributed on the Lille and Paris-La Défense campuses. They came up with the words that will make a student feel less isolated in the future, and the images that will reassure him or her and give them the confidence to contact the support unit.

The best projects (three posters and three videos) were rewarded and unveiled during the “CSR Day”, organized on March 15, and their creations exhibited on this occasion on the two campuses of the School. The winners of the 1st prize of the competition in each category are Céleste VERLINDE (for the poster category) and Léo FITOUSSI (for the video category).

Céleste VERLINDE, a student in the first year of Master in “Digital Marketing and e-commerce”, explains: “During my studies, I was part of several associations: REC, Le Cartel de la Com and this year, the Student Federation, of which I am currently the Communications Manager. I wanted to participate in this challenge because I think it is essential to address the issue of violence that can affect students. Students must be made aware of dangerous behaviors and reminded that they are the only owners of their bodies. No one else should be able to force them to do anything they don’t want to do. However, these behaviors are not isolated, victims are usually ashamed to talk about them and get help because of the fear of being stigmatized. The shame must change sides, these behaviors must be punished and the victims must be accompanied. During my exchange in Canada, in my second year, I was strongly exposed to the issue of sexual and gender-based violence through numerous posters in the university and a training platform that taught us how to detect violent behavior. I was inspired by this experience but also by the experiences of people close to me for my project. It’s very rewarding to win an award like this, it’s especially great to have the opportunity to participate in this kind of competition. I am a very creative person and I like to express myself on these important topics for everyone. It was a great opportunity offered to us by IÉSEG“.

Léo FITOUSSI, a 3rd year student in the Bachelor cycle of the Grande École Program, also comments: “When I entered the School, I joined the NAVY, the IÉSEG sailing association, to participate with the School’s crew in the EDHEC Boat Race. I became the president in my second year, before becoming the Communications Manager of AEIP (IÉSEG Paris Student Association) this year. I grew up traveling around the world and especially in French Polynesia. I had the chance to evolve in an environment much more caring, in general, than that of large metropolitan cities. The theme of the challenge is particularly important to me, not to mention the fact that being at AEIP, my role is to ensure the safety of the students – especially during parties. I think that it is also the role of the School to accompany the student life in all its aspects, and to be able to help everyone when it is necessary. To create my video, I was looking for a problem that everyone could relate to. I think that today, with social networks, groups…, many have already experienced cyber harassment. I thought that showing this problem in the form of a “computer story” allows the audience to better put themselves in the shoes of the victim, and therefore have more impact. I’m very proud to have won the contest because I took the risk of making a video in a particular format that might have been displeasing. After IÉSEG, I would like to move into digital marketing. Demonstrating that I know how to convey a message through these video formats, as I did there, will only help me!”

The Management Board of IÉSEG, the “Violence, Harassment and Discrimination” support unit and the Center of Excellence for Intercultural Engagement (ICIE) congratulate the winners as well as all the participants of the challenge for their involvement and creativity.

Contact: Coline Briquet – Equality and Inclusion Officer, c.briquet@ieseg.fr