Hope or the hope of an inspiring life course for children

Director of Innovation at Gecina, Brahim Annour is also a top-level sportsman and patron of the Hope association.

Founded and chaired by Thibaut Legrain, Hope organises meetings and sports introductions in schools with able-bodied and disabled champions. In exchange for the time they devote to these events, the association provides them with financial support, giving them the best possible conditions in which to perform. ‘Brahim Annour continues: ‘The Gecina Foundation has been supporting the Hope project almost since its inception in 2020, in order to reach as many children as possible, especially those with disabilities or living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. In concrete terms, the corporate foundation is helping Guilhem Laget and Dimitri Jozwiki, two athletes who took part in the Paralympic Games in Paris. 

When he was younger, Guilhem Laget contracted a virus similar to poliomyelitis, which paralysed his left leg. But that didn't stop him playing tennis! He has been playing wheelchair tennis since the age of 18, and 8 years later became three-time French champion. Wheelchair tennis is the disabled version of tennis,’ he explains. The only rule that changes is that you get two rebounds, but it's played on the same courts, with the same balls and the same rackets. We play tournaments all year round, to take part in the Grand Slam and once every 4 years in the Olympic Games. In fact, he was one of the para-athletes present at the Paris 2024 Games.  

Although Guilhem works with Hope in schools, this should in no way interfere with his preparation or his tournaments. Thibaut Legrain therefore takes into account his availability before contacting the schools. During the discussion with the children, Guilhem tells them about his life, his disability and his sport, and then introduces them to wheelchair tennis. 

After being captivated by Christophe Lemaître's performances at the 2010 World Championships, Dimitri Jozwicki and his twin brother, then aged 13, took up athletics. Dimitri suffers from cerebral palsy, which causes severe muscle fatigue and coordination problems. A disability that hasn't stopped him from winning a silver medal in the 100m at the European Championships in 2021, and a fine 5th place in the Paralympic final at the Paris 2024 Games. With Hope and Thibaut Legrain, we work in schools in priority education zones, with children who have no access to sport or culture,’ explains Dimitri Jozwicki. They don't have the opportunity to go and see sportsmen and women. So the idea is to bring the sportsmen and women to them, not just to sell them the dream and talk to them about sporting performance, but rather to talk to them about their lives. 

The Gecina Foundation does more than simply pay its contribution to the Hope association: ‘It shares its commitment with the company's employees, customers and partners, in order to raise awareness,’ explains Brahim Annour. It shares its commitment with the company's employees, customers and partners, in order to raise awareness,’ explains Brahim Annour. For example, Dimitri Jozwicki spoke at Gecina's head office during Disability Week, and on 7 September, some of our customers and partners were invited to the Wheelchair Tennis final of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games at Roland Garros. It was a wonderful moment of togetherness and solidarity, and we look forward to repeating it!’ 

Victories at the JOP

• Several para-athletes accompanied by Hope and supported by the Gecina Foundation won medals, including Nelia Barbosa (silver in para-canoe-kayak), Lucas Mazur (gold in para-badminton) and Helios Latchoumanaya (silver in para-judo).

Key figures:

• 80 partner schools
• 10,000 children benefited
• 25 champions involved