The “Digital Pathway Program” came into being with the signature, in April 2006, of an agreement by Bertrand Delanoë, Mayor of Paris, and Gavin Newsom, Mayor of San Francisco – the “Digital Sister Cities”. The objective of the two cities is to develop cooperation projects in the area of the digital economy, in conjunction with companies from the sector.

In the United States, San Francisco State University (Joaquin Alvarado) and a group of multimedia companies  (Bay Area Video Corporation, BAVC) will be contributing their experience. In France, the city of Paris has given its digital competitiveness arm, “Cap Digital”, the task of getting companies from the industry involved in the programme. One of the projects in the “Digital Pathway Program” consists of training young people from disadvantaged districts in digital techniques.

This programme of solidarity was set up two years ago in San Francisco, and has proven to be an effective way of getting young people into employment. The authorities in Paris have now decided to implement such a scheme, calling on support from Réseau 2000, an association that introduces Parisians to new information and communications technologies.

As part of the programme, the Jean-Luc Lagardère Foundation will be financing 15 young Parisians aged between 18 and 30 years old as they learn about the latest digital technologies. The youngsters come from the city’s 18th and 19th districts, most of them out of work and some of them receiving income support.

The aim of the training is to prepare them for jobs in the partner companies. They are currently producing a video clip for the singer, Sinclair, which will be transmitted to mobile phones during the 50th San Francisco International Film Festival, on 5 May 2007.

Link to the Réseau 2000 association’s website, click here