The satchel operation runs until mid-September: upgrade your children’s old backpacks, saddlebags and satchels and receive a gift voucher in return. This initiative is supported by the Le Relais business network, a member of Emmaüs. To collect the schoolbags, the Relais has forged partnerships with major brands such as Leclerc, Auchan, Système U, but also specialized stores such as Bureau Vallée or Sport 2000. You drop off your old bags, in good condition, and you receive them in exchange a voucher: between 10 and 20€. The Relay collects between 200 and 300,000 coins! 85% of schoolbags collected are actually reusable. They are cleaned and then redistributed to French and African students. The remaining 15% is converted into fuel for industrial boilers. This operation will create 4,000 direct and indirect jobs. The list of “Operation Cartables” collection points is available on the lerelais.org website.
With the assistance of INA documentalists: Véronique Jolivet – Hervé Evanno. Episode produced with excerpts from the 1 p.m. news broadcast on 08/21/2002 on France 2