Paris Saint-Germain Foundation opens second Red & Blue School

Situated in the district of Val Fourré in Mantes-la-Jolie, this latest Red & Blue School – an after-school place of learning that develops the Paris Saint-Germain Foundation’s original concept – aims to help children who have problems at home or in school or difficulty integrating into society to have confidence in themselves and to support them on the path to learning.

Welcoming more than a thousand children

Designed especially for the project and funded by the local authorities, the new school will welcome more than a thousand 7 to 11-year-olds from local schools taking part in the Paris Saint-Germain Foundation’s educational programme. The youngsters, who are collected from their schools at the end of the school day, will take part in a combination of physical and educational activities, laid on every week by six dedicated teachers.

The opening was attended by representatives of the local authorities; Raphaël Cognet, the Mayor of Mantes-la-Jolie; Pierre Bédier, the President of the Yvelines Department; Philippe Tautou, the President of the Grand Paris Seine et Oise Urban Community; Jean-Claude Blanc, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Paris Saint-Germain and vice-president of the Paris Saint-Germain Foundation; Christine Le Gal, the Director of the Paris Saint-Germain Foundation; and Paris Saint-Germain Foundation sponsor Laure Boulleau and Adrien Rabiot, who met with youngsters at the event, signing autographs for them and answering their requests

Developed by the Paris Saint-Germain Foundation, the RED & BLUE School is sponsored by the French National Commission for UNESCO.

A third RED & BLUE School is already in the pipeline and will open at the club’s future training and development centre in Poissy, Les Yvelines, in 2020.

Jean-Claude Blanc, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Paris Saint-Germain: “This new Red & Blue School exemplifies the very strong ties that bind Paris Saint-Germain to the département of Yvelines and its inhabitants. This landmark project of the Paris Saint-Germain Foundation has the support of the club’s president. It reflects our desire to give back to society everything that it gives to the club. We know that Paris Saint-Germain is very popular in this neighbourhood, which is home to many young sports lovers and football fans in particular. We are delighted to be bringing the club to the local area on a permanent basis and to make our contribution, through this project, to strengthening the social ties that bind us all.”

Christine Le Gal, Director of the Paris Saint-Germain Foundation: “The Red & Blue School is a flagship project for the Paris Saint-Germain Foundation. Our approach has earned the approval of children, parents and charities and institutional players. We are very proud to be taking the project to Mantes-la-Jolie today, following the success enjoyed by our pilot school in Paris’ 19th arrondissement. I would like to extend the warmest of thanks to all our partners for their confidence and support in backing our activities, which allow us to develop.”