Capital Filles is a scheme created in 2012 by Orange with the support of the French ministry of education. Its purpose is to provide impartial guidance to young women in economically disadvantaged areas, whether urban or rural, helping them with their career choices for which they remain fully independent. These candidates can thus learn more about businesses and job prospects in their region, especially in technical and industrial skills areas in which women are severely under-represented.
Céline Dépré for example has shared her atypical career path in order to show that women have a place and can build a successful career in the world of industry. Starting out with a 2 year diploma (BTS) in book-keeping, she sought to retrain as a lathe and cutting mill operator with Framatome (under the CQPM scheme). She worked in this field for three years before moving into stock management and worked her way up to become a shipping manager.
She first met her protégé in December 2018. Céline helped Sonia, who was completing her secondary school education at the Lycée Pierre Forest in Maubeuge, in her choice of career, coaching her in how to enter the world of industry and guiding her through the procedures for entering higher education.
In undertaking a mentorship mission with Capital Filles, Céline wanted to strike home an important message: “There is no job that a woman can’t do. We have to forget the idea that women are not in their place behind a machine tool in the workshop. “ Mission accomplished: not only did Céline’s protégé pass her baccalauréat but she has also secured a place on an engineering science course.
The good news was announced at a Capital Filles meeting held at Framatome on July 5th in the presence of Dominique Goutard, the director of Capital Filles, Benjamin Saint-Huile, president of the Agglomération Maubeuge-Val de Sambre and a dozen or so local businesses.
Framatome will continue to work with Capital Filles in the coming school year.
To quote another of our mentors :
“The Capital Filles scheme brings young women together with a view to changing the image of jobs in industry which in the collective subconscience remain reserved for men. It enables these women to discover some highly rewarding jobs in which they have a rightful place.” Valérie Petit, HSE manager at SOMANU, Maubeuge.