Valmet supports Institut Saint-André in France through its social responsibility program

Valmet’s donation was presented at Institut Saint-André. Pictured from left to right are Tero Kokko (Area President EMEA), Marie Deike (Sales & Marketing Assistant France), Sybille Berger (Director, IME St André), Laura-Maria Saarinen (Director, Marketing and Communications EMEA), Frank Wick (Financial Controller Valmet SAS), Carlos Da Silva (Manager of Valmet' Service center in Cernay), and David, Marie Christine Simonin, Thérèse, Anna Loux, Géraldine Meyer from Institut Saint-André.

Institut Saint-André is dedicated to the recreation, accommodation and care of people with mental or physical disabilities. It welcomes people of all ages, but for children and youth with disabilities, it offers distinct services including foster care and special education. The institute was established in 1891, and it is located just a ten-minute drive away from Valmet’s service center in Cernay, France.  

Valmet’s donation brings joy and improves the feeling of inclusion for children with disabilities 

The Institute's professionals are specialized in developing the educational and social skills of its permanent residents and those who attend the various activities on a daily basis. To further improve the children’s possibilities to recreation and learning, Valmet donates to the institute a special touch table ActiveTab, and an electric tandem bike.  

The digital touch table promotes learning, memory and concentration while offering the children a fun and inclusive experience through educational games and other inclusive activities. For example, puzzles are impossible to solve for children with certain disabilities, but the advanced touch screen enables them to move the puzzle pieces. The bike will allow children to enjoy safe rides and fresh air on the institute's premises and beyond, providing many children with a new form of movement and the feeling of autonomy. 

"We want to thank Valmet for their generosity and the recognition they've shown to the institute's and our employees' work. Valmet's donation has brought joy while providing the children with improved opportunities for play, learning and outdoor activities," says Marc Jermann, Service Director at Institut Saint-André. 

“The equipment is adapted to the cognitive and motoric abilities of the most disadvantaged children – ActivTab enabling them to learn in a fun way, and VéloFun adapted tandem to explore the nearby trails. Without Valmet's generosity, we would not have been able to acquire such equipment. For us, it's also recognition of the commitment of our staff tirelessly working to improve the children’s lives,” says Sybille Berger, Director, Institut Médico-Éducatif at Saint André. 

The donation was presented by Tero Kokko, Area President, EMEA, and his colleagues during a visit to Institut Saint-André before year-end in 2024. 

“It is important for us as a company to participate in the lives of the local communities where we operate, and we are very happy for having the opportunity to support Institut Saint-André in Cernay. Enhancing equal opportunities for well-being is one of the key themes of Valmet’s social responsibility program, and I’m convinced that the equipment we donated will help to enrich the children's daily lives while creating moments of joy together with their friends and families as well as the professionals who take care of them,” Tero Kokko says.

In 2023-2024, Valmet’s area-specific project in the EMEA area supported the Dąbrówka Orphanage in Jelenia Góra, Poland.