Mission & Vision
EVOCAE, founded in 2021, seeks to address the educational and professional equality gap in France through holistic support. The organization serves 18- to 25-year-olds who hold a baccalauréat but lack a motivating, actionable career plan. The program offers intensive guidance, tailored to help these students overcome the barriers that hold them back.
In France, despite a high success rate of over 90% for students earning their high school diploma (baccalauréat), a significant number struggle in higher education. Nearly 1 in 4 students fails to complete their first year of university, with no resources or option to transition into other forms of training or education. This post-secondary dropout crisis affects around 200,000 students annually, twice the number of high school or middle school dropouts.
The causes are varied: many students lose motivation, finding it difficult to navigate France’s complex higher education system, or are not adequately prepared for the academic demands. Mental health challenges and social isolation have also contributed to this growing issue, particularly for students from underserved communities.
For those who drop out of higher education, especially vulnerable young people from disadvantaged neighborhoods, the response is often focused on getting them into work, leading them into fast-track employment paths. As a result, many young people limit their professional options, feeling unable to pursue potentially more rewarding career paths due to a lack of resources, time, or skills.
While many organizations offer mentoring programs and career guidance tools for young people, often through online resources or workshops supported by job discovery platforms, more comprehensive and intensive solutions are required for those already vulnerable and deeply affected by the discouraging experience of dropping out.
This is where EVOCAE steps in. Their vision is that every young person entering higher education be given the time, training, and support they need to find their path and succeed in their studies. EVOCAE’s mission is to train young people to find their bearings and prepare them to succeed in their studies through an intensive, structured, and comprehensive post-baccalaureate program in France.
Guided by the principles of care, high standards, and a whole-student approach, EVOCAE’s dedicated team is passionate about transforming the lives of young people through interactive, well-rounded, skills-based education.
Actions Led
EVOCAE’s main program, Parcours Vocation, offers an intensive 6- to 8-month course designed to help young people find their direction and prepare for successful studies that will lead to professional fulfillment.
Students dedicate 20 hours per week to a comprehensive curriculum aimed at achieving three key objectives: choosing their path and building a life project, training for academic success, and participating in engaging in projects and enriching experiences.
The program is divided into three phases:
- Exploration and Self-Discovery: Participants explore new opportunities and reflect on their personal goals.
- Developing a Plan: Students create actionable educational and career plans that align with their skills and aspirations.
- Preparation for Success: This final phase ensures participants are ready for the academic challenges ahead, equipped with the tools they need to succeed.
With ongoing mentorship and support, EVOCAE guides students from enrollment through to their academic and professional milestones, empowering them to reclaim their futures.
Since 2022, EVOCAE has designed, led and successfully implemented the Vocation program for 70 young people in Marseille in the South of France, with compelling results:
- An attendance rate close to 95%;
- Over 90% received positive responses to their applications aligned with their career plans;
- 80% enrolled the following year in a training establishment that is consistent with their career plan.
EVOCAE now wants to increase its impact and become a key player in post-baccalaureate career guidance. They are now launching new branches in several other towns in the South of France to prove their model, before considering a national roll-out.
Projects U.S. Donors Can Support
Donors from the U.S. can help EVOCAE scale up its transformative work. Contributions support the Parcours Vocation, enabling more vulnerable youth in France to receive the personalized support they need to re-engage in education and successfully find professional integration, no matter their chosen field.
Your support can create transformative change in the lives of vulnerable youth in France. By contributing to the Parcours Vocation, you’ll help provide essential resources for personalized education and professional integration, empowering young people to pursue their dreams and build a brighter future.