OUR CULTURE AND PHILOSOPHY

We build our organization on a culture of educational excellence and celebration of cultural, linguistic, and social diversity. We search for economic inclusiveness with determination. We respect each other and the environment. We are professionals. We make things happen. Our programs are delivered in-person in various educational institutions.

EFBA is committed to respecting the dignity and well-being of each child by creating a respectful and positive environment in which each child can find his/her/their place and reach his/her/their full potential.

We provide an inclusive and welcome environment to the children and adults who participate in our programs, their families, our employees, staff members, and volunteers.

It is particularly important for us to provide access to our programs for all children. Living together, accepting and respecting differences, and enriching the community through diversity are all part of our mission. We are committed to welcoming all children, regardless of ability, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, age, cultural, racial, ethnic or national origin, social origin, opinions or beliefs. We value and respect the entire Francophone world and beyond.

These are the core elements of our culture:

Public Service

We get up in the morning to make the world a better place. We want to serve not just the families who live “downtown” but also the many others who live far from the city center, in suburbs and more remote areas.

Social Entrepreneurship

We see opportunities in problems. We will not wait for the government to solve an injustice nor let the market regulate itself and hope for the best; we take direct action to create a new more just equilibrium. We are the change we seek.

Innovation

We try new things, evaluate how they work, keep the findings, and forgive ourselves when we fail. We pivot again and again and again, until we are satisfied with the result. We are curious and lifelong learners. We are not scared of making mistakes. Experimenting is fascinating and useful to invent a new model of schooling.  Outside of school, experimenting is a way to live fully and grow.

Inclusivity

We believe that every child and every person has potential, and it is our individual and collective duty to empower that human being through care, guidance, and education to become truly part of society.

Cultural Diversity

“La Francophonie” (The Francophone world) is the result of a historical process. In a postcolonial world, we cannot undo the impact - and sometimes harm - that France created through its colonization abroad, but we can use the common language to discover and appreciate each other’s cultures. Beyond the French-speaking world, we believe in promoting multilingualism and multiculturalism. We actively seek to embrace and integrate diverse people in our teams.

Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence can be developed. It is contrasted with a fixed mindset, the belief that intelligence is a fixed trait that is set in stone at birth. As a learning organization made of professional educators, we understand that each of us, not just our students, can become smarter through hard work, the use of effective strategies, and help from others when needed. At EFBA, we embrace and model that we will continue learning over our entire life.

Solutions-Oriented Mindset

The lack of resources in a nonprofit does not discourage us, it makes us creative, frugal and solution-oriented. Except death, everything else has one or several solutions. Let’s find them together!

Collaboration

At EFBA, we play nice and we work as a team. We appreciate individual contributors and recognize exceptional contributions, but we don’t have favorites. We understand that we are all beekeepers of a positive and delightful work culture.

Accountability

Working at EFBA, you will have tremendous amounts of freedom. We hire smart people and try to stay out of their way. In return, we ask you remain true to our rules, our culture, and our goals. There are several ways to get the job done; thus, we want you to have ownership and agency over your work. In return, you will be expected to take responsibility. If one of us lets the team down, our students lose. Working at a nonprofit is only a tax status. We aim at the utmost professionalism and have high expectations for our students, employees, and mission. 

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