Who we are
The Nabila BERKANE endowment fund, ASFAA, aims to carry out all actions of general interest with a philanthropic or educational nature, particularly through any aid, assistance, and material support, towards women and especially women of African and Arab origin whose access to education and employment is difficult due to their social, cultural, geographical isolation, or lack of financial means.
Our missions
Worldwide, women still face discrimination in access to education and employment, particularly women of African and Arab origin. Their situations are precarious due to a lack of financial means, but also due to the exclusion they experience.
The Nabila BERKANE endowment fund, ASFAA, directly or in partnership with associations operating in France and abroad, supports projects for access to education, vocational training, and the development of personal or collective actions that promote theeconomic empowerment of women in difficulty.
A word from the President
The Nabila BERKANE, ASFAA endowment fund was created in memory of my father.
My father considered the education and instruction of women as a pillar of development for African and Arab societies.
He ensured that my sisters and I had every chance to succeed. He encouraged us, passed on the values of sharing, a sense of effort, resilience at work, and left us free to make our own choices. Our successes, and those of his granddaughters, were a joy and a source of pride for him. He wanted us to be free and independent women.
This fund is an extension of his principles and aims to offer other women a chance to achieve their potential and become empowered.
Nabila Berkane
As the eldest of 7 children, I was born and raised in Algeria.
I arrived in France to pursue engineering studies at Supelec and a Doctor of Engineering thesis in telecommunications.
Upon returning to Algeria, I worked for 4 years at the Ministry of Telecommunications.
I returned to France to launch a company in the field of software development. To accelerate its development, it merged with another company with the aim of creating a major French software publisher.
The venture lasted three years before the company experienced difficulties.
I decided, with a group of engineers, to take over the activities of this company.
We created Profil Technology, a company specializing in the development, publishing, and distribution of software. I managed and developed Profil Technology for 30 years. As a woman, in an environment of male leaders, I had to prove my ability to maintain and grow the company.
The strategies, principles, and values that I put in place enabled it to experience strong growth and be a “success maker.” Its reputation has crossed the borders of France and attracted American and European publishers who were looking for a reliable partner to develop business in French-speaking countries.
Profil Technology was approached by several companies for a merger or acquisition. In 2016, the shareholders accepted a purchase offer from a European group.
I then decided to create the Nabila BERKANE endowment fund to help and support women, particularly women of African and Arab origin, to enable them to to become empowered and defend their rights.
