The Pape Diouf endowment fund was launched on Wednesday April 1, a year after the death of the former president of Olympique de Marseille, who died suddenly in Dakar hit by Covid-19. This initiative will support and finance citizen actions in Marseille, France and Africa through various themes. Nathalie Paoli, former director of communication for the Marseille football club, and a great friend of Pape Diouf, reveals the objectives of this human project to us.
An idea of Pape Diouf himself
« It all started in 2014 », Explains Nathalie Paoli. That year, Pape Diouf ran for municipal elections in Marseille with his “Change the deal” lists. “Despite the pleasure he took in meeting citizens and bringing them together,” he very quickly understood that political politics and facade alliances were not for him », Tells the one who also accompanied him in this political adventure, as person in charge of the communication of his campaign. On the other hand, Pape Diouf has never forgotten all the Marseillais whom he met during the campaign and who trusted him. It was after this political attempt that the “Pope of Marseille” considered creating his own foundation, in collaboration with Nathalie Paoli, to help the citizens of the Marseille city. But the project is delayed. Nathalie Paoli is going through the ordeal of the illness and the death of her 9-year-old daughter. Then she is fully mobilized by the creation and development of the association The Point Rose which helps families affected by the bereavement of a child.
« You have to bring your values to life »
Nathalie Paoli
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After the sudden death in 2020 of Pape Diouf, Nathalie Paoli does not give up the idea of creating a citizen endowment fund, quite the contrary. With the journalists Alexandre Faure and Yann Pécheral, also at the origin of the project, she decides to talk about it to Oumy, widow of Pape Diouf who now chairs the endowment fund, and to Wilfried Meynet, running mate of the 2014 candidate. to municipal officials, lawyer, and with whom she has already set up the OM Foundation.
« Give the name of Pope to a street, to a platform, why not, but to pay him the most beautiful tribute, we must bring his values to life. “. She decides to talk about it to Oumy, widow of Pape Diouf, who now chairs the endowment fund, and Wilfried Meynet, running mate of the 2014 municipal candidate, now a lawyer for the project. ” The objective is for the endowment fund to become a public utility foundation, but this recognition takes several years. », Indicates Nathalie Paoli.
One theme per year and calls for projects
Each year, the Pape Diouf endowment fund will launch calls for projects on a Marseille, French and African scale on themes such as culture, sport and education. But before collaborating with associations and local actors, the fund still needs to expand its board of directors. ” The Board will be representative of all facets of Pape Diouf’s personality », Explains Nathalie Paoli. It will be made up of representatives ” of the African Pope, of the journalist Pope, of the Pope of OM She continues. The door is wide open to friends of Pape Diouf who would like to join the cause.
Useful links :
> The endowment fund twitter account
> Pape Diouf struck down by the coronavirus in Dakar
> Pape Diouf in the archives of Gomet ‘
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