Olivier Cantet (E87), President at ESSEC Alumni, sends his support to those who got hit by the Morocco earthquake, tells how our local alumni are coping and presents the various solidarity initiatives the ESSEC community is launching in response to the tragedy. 

We are deeply saddened by the news of the devastating earthquake that occurred in Morocco, near Marrakech, leaving almost 2,900 people dead and 5,500 injured.

Our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy, especially the ESSEC Moroccan community. "Fortunately, all 250 students and staff on the Rabat campus are safe and sound," says Hugues Levecq, Deputy Dean of ESSEC Africa. We also contacted our ESSEC Alumni Morocco Chapter President, Mamoun Guedira (E10): "Our 400 graduates don't seem to have been directly affected. Despite the shock, we are focused on action: contributing to the special fund, collecting food donations, humanitarian action, and logistical support."

The community is launching solidarity initiatives

Driven by our humanist values, our entire community is launching emergency solidarity initiatives:

• Blood drive: the Rabat campus is mobilizing technical and human resources to welcome donors from the community,

• Contribution to the special fund: ESSEC Afrique is making a contribution of 50,000€ to the special fund for managing the effects of the earthquake in the Kingdom of Morocco, launched on the instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI,

• Student solidarity: the ESSEC Maroc student association joined forces with Moroccan student associations from HEC, Sciences Po, Assas, EPFL, Warwick, UCL, Imperial and ESCP to raise funds for Baraka Angels and the Banque Alimentaire,

• Psychological support: for all alumni who need it, ESSEC Alumni offers support from Boris Haguenauer (E98), clinical psychologist and coach; contact Elisabeth Dos Anjos (elisabeth.dosanjos@essec.edu) to learn more.

ESSEC and ESSEC Alumni are doubling your donations for the French Red Cross

In addition, ESSEC Business School and ESSEC Alumni are calling on your generosity to support the actions of the Moroccan Red Crescent, through the intermediary of the French Red Cross, already on the field, bringing its proven experience in logistics, search, rescue, first aid, and reconstruction assistance.

ESSEC Business School and ESSEC Alumni are committed to doubling your tax-deductible donations¹ up to a maximum of €25,000. Your donations will provide immediate help for the relief effort:

Make a donation

We are counting on your generosity to provide immediate help. 

Together, your donation will have double the impact for the victims of Morocco. 

Many thanks in advance!

¹ If you are a French tax payer, you can claim tax relief of 75% of your donation up to €1000, beyond €1000 you can claim 66%, not exceeding 20% of your taxable income. A donation of €100, for example, would cost you only €25 after tax reduction.

Image : ESSEC Africa - A moment of remembrance on September 12, 2023 on the Rabat campus