YHP France

Location

Île-de-France, around Paris, and Hauts-de-France in northern France, with support for L’Ascenseur’s wider activities across the country.

Timing

2020 - 2028

The local context

Social and economic inequalities can affect young people’s opportunities throughout their lives. In France, a 2018 OECD study estimated that it could take around six generations for descendants of families in the lowest-income 10% to reach the national average income.1

Young people also face barriers to accessing health support. In a 2025 IFOP survey for L’Ascenseur, 44% of respondents aged 12–30 said they had previously gone without medical or psychological help. Reasons included financial difficulties, long waiting times and not knowing which health professional to approach.2

Poverty and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are closely linked. People facing social and economic disadvantage can experience poorer health and more limited access to health services. The environments in which people live also influence exposure to NCD risk factors, including tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and harmful alcohol use.3

Our objectives

To improve the educational and employment prospects of more than 1,000 young people aged 12–25 from underserved and rural communities, while helping reduce health inequalities and young people’s future risk of NCDs.

Our programme

AstraZeneca is a co-founding partner of L’Ascenseur, a coalition working to improve access to education, employment, culture and sport, regardless of social, cultural or geographical background. The coalition also encourages civic engagement to strengthen connections between communities.

YHP France supports this work through education, mentoring and employment opportunities. The 2026–2028 phase will build on these activities by adding a dedicated focus on NCD prevention and health inequalities.

Supporting education and employment

Through ViensVoirMonTaf, Télémaque, Article 1 and La Cravate Solidaire, the Programme helps young people access internships, receive educational and career guidance, build confidence and prepare for employment.

Girls Belong Here, internships with AstraZeneca and long-term mentoring will continue as part of this support. These opportunities will also support young people looking ahead to education and employment after illness.

The Programme also supports L’Ascenseur’s development in Hauts-de-France, home to AstraZeneca’s Dunkirk site. This work brings together local associations, schools and universities to improve equality of opportunity in underserved communities.

Adding NCD prevention and health education

The new health activities will help young people develop their understanding of NCD prevention and make informed decisions about their health. Two prevention masterclasses will be offered per cohort.

Activities with Aïda through the Maison de la Santé will provide prevention education and guidance on finding appropriate health support. These activities will focus on information and signposting, rather than screening or diagnosis.

Understanding and addressing health inequalities

An NCD-focused Youth Barometer, developed with IFOP, will gather insights into young people’s health and the inequalities they experience. A new Health Research Seminar will provide an opportunity to explore these issues further.

A new ‘Prevention & Health Inequalities’ category in the Geniuses of Equal Opportunity Prize will recognise initiatives in this area. L’Ascenseur also plans to bring two to three additional health associations into the coalition, strengthening connections between organisations working on social inclusion and youth health.

Our achievements

  • YHP France helped establish France’s first coalition for equal opportunities, L’Ascenseur, whose collective activities support one million young people across the country.
  • 80 young people have been directly reached through YHP France.
  • We are developing a dedicated youth health initiative within L’Ascenseur, involving Aïda, which supports young people with cancer, and a national survey exploring access to healthcare and health inequalities.

Our partners

L’Ascenseur - A French coalition bringing together associations, businesses and public-sector partners to improve equality of opportunity and help people fulfil their potential.

ViensVoirMonTaf - Connects students from underserved communities with professionals, helping young people who have limited access to professional networks find quality work-experience placements. 

Télémaque - Supports secondary school students and apprentices through mentoring that brings together professionals and educational staff, helping young people build confidence and fulfil their potential. 

Article1 - Helps young people from lower-income backgrounds navigate education and employment through guidance, mentoring and opportunities for personal and professional development. 

La Cravate Solidaire - Helps people prepare for employment through interview coaching, professional clothing and practical support to build confidence and overcome recruitment barriers. 

Aïda - Supports adolescents and young adults affected by cancer during and after treatment, helping them maintain connections with others and look ahead to their future. 

References:

1. OECD (2018). A Broken Social Elevator? How to Promote Social Mobility. Figure 1.5, page 27. View the report

2. IFOP (2025). Baromètre Égalité des chances – Vague 2. Survey for L’Ascenseur. Methodology on page 4; findings on access to medical and psychological help on pages 15–16. View the report

3. World Health Organization (2025). Noncommunicable diseases. View the fact sheet