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Diaspo #402 : Abdelaali El Badaoui, driving social change through holistic health
Born in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region to parents from Foum Zguid and Agdz in the Zagora area, Abdelaali El Badaoui grew up in a working-class family in France. His father, grandfather, and uncle all worked in the mining industry until its decline in the 1990s. This hard labor left them with irreversible health conditions: silicosis, asbestos-related diseases, and lung cancer. From an early age, the native of Dechy faced learning difficulties linked to hyperactivity, undiagnosed dyslexia, and graphic distortion.
It was not until the age of 33 that these issues were formally diagnosed, revealing at the same time a high intellectual potential (HPI). These assessments helped him make sense of a life shaped by obstacles, as well as encounters that turned into blessings. At six years old, El Badaoui suffered a domestic accident that caused burns over 70% of his body, leading to a long hospital stay in a sterile room and multiple skin grafts.
Over time, he recovered from this early trauma and went on to become a cross-country champion in middle school. As a high-level athlete, he competed with the French athletics team and became European vice-champion in his discipline. Yet his learning difficulties eventually led him to drop out of school before earning his baccalaureate. At 16, he left high school and entered the healthcare environment almost by chance.
During this period, a hospital director opened doors for him, offering a two-week internship in cleaning services. His contact with an elderly patient left a profound impression on him, prompting him to reflect on the importance of care. Equally transformative was the positive feedback he received, which changed his self-image. At the end of the internship, he was immediately offered a position at the facility. Seven years later, the same director, convinced of his abilities, advocated for his entry into nursing school, despite his lack of a high school diploma.
A Reflection on Holistic and Community Health
El Badaoui graduated after three and a half years and worked as a nurse in various departments, cardiology, intensive care, pediatrics, before moving into private practice. Over the years, he developed a broader vision of health, embracing a holistic approach that considers physical, mental, and emotional well-being, along with lifestyle factors, and approaches health proactively rather than reactively. This path led him to found Banlieues Santé in 2018, an organization at the intersection of healthcare and social action.
«I position myself within an associative framework aimed at social entrepreneurship, or even impact entrepreneurship. The goal is to transform or improve public policies, both in health and the economy, by creating jobs, wealth, and value. The idea is to start from this social fabric, with its human value, to equip people for social innovation, improve their quality of life, and thus positively impact their health, directly or indirectly. We are addressing a blind spot in public policies».
For him, the value of combining his roles as nurse and entrepreneur lies in addressing both public policy and economic challenges: «It's about putting the economy at the service of social needs, giving those needs a much stronger common-law dimension in the territories and for the inhabitants».
Thanks to a fellowship with the American NGO Ashoka, he is now internationally recognized as a social entrepreneur. Since January, he has been enrolled in an advanced public service studies program at the prestigious École nationale d'administration (ENA) in Paris.
Looking beyond healthcare, El Badaoui has created a foundation encompassing Banlieues Santé and other NGOs, Banlieues School, Banlieues Climat, Banlieues Sport, and Banlieues Droit.
«I wanted to approach things holistically, not in silos. I don't think the most sustainable way to support vulnerable populations is to address their issues from one angle. We need to start from the basics—the economy of life and health».
«Health is not just the absence of symptoms and disease. It's a state of social, mental, and physical well-being. The idea is to start from health and branch into education, environment, law, and sports. This means creating independent organizations by theme to embed in the territories, while keeping a holistic, participatory dimension, listening to people, gauging the 'social thermometer' on the ground, and better responding to their needs».
For him, this is where the concept of a public health economy lies—seeing it as an investment, not an expense. «Investing in the prevention of social inequalities in a broad sense will, in the long term, achieve this».
Developing a Health Economy in France and Morocco
On a personal level, he is committed to restoring justice to the elders of migrant workers: «Many of our ancestors fell ill, and the health system didn't take care of them in time, even though these workers contributed the most while benefiting the least. We are restoring justice through scientific studies with the CNRS and Public Health France, focusing on retirees and our chibanis through the 'bien-aînés' program».
«Public health economies have a greater impact than others because if we invest massively in prevention, training, equipment, and tools that allow the most vulnerable to access common rights and become autonomous, it ultimately improves their health and prevents what we call non-recourse, or late recourse, to healthcare».
In 2020, his territorial work in France earned him the European Citizen's Prize from the European Parliament. He later received the Paul Vigné d'Octon Prize from the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences of the Institut de France. In 2022, Ashoka named him a lifelong social entrepreneur. He now sits on several boards, including foundations of major CAC 40 companies, investment funds like Mutuelles Impact, and state bodies such as the Regional Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESER).
El Badaoui is also co-founder of Banlieues Capital, an investment vehicle supporting impact startups, some valued at several billion euros, in early childhood, health, and education. He now intends to bring this expertise to Morocco and Africa, adapting it to local realities while introducing best practices learned abroad.
Since the September 2023 earthquake, his association has been active in Al-Haouz, fostering a community health approach and empowering residents, particularly women, on issues of well-being and value creation. This work continues, and he plans to create synergies with local organizations.
In the coming months, Essaouira will host the first Women's Café, a concept successfully implemented in several French municipalities. «Beyond being a meeting place, women will be able to access support for personal and family health, particularly through training».
In line with this vision, he plans to launch an African entity headquartered in Morocco to coordinate local and continental initiatives. Nationally, his actions aim to align with the Memorandum of Understanding between the Association of Regions of Morocco (ARM) and the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME), to strengthen the contribution of Moroccans worldwide to territorial development.
«It's about engaging in a social transformation in the spirit of His Majesty's speech. As dual nationals, we make ourselves available, with all humility, to serve our country, our continent, and the most vulnerable», he shared.
