Bruni to launch fashion scholarships to help France's youth

London, September 6 (ANI): Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is set to launch scholarships for youths from difficult backgrounds in France to help them achieve their dreams of making it to the fashion industry.

The wife of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy plans to use the scholarship programme in the Parisian suburbs that were charred during one of the country's worst riots almost four years ago.

The Carla Bruni-Sarkozy Foundation would cover the suburbs in its "nationwide" focus that would include helping youths in neglected rural settings, Grégoire Verdeaux said while speaking for the charity, reports Times Online.

The foundation, that has been set up with the aim of helping the country's "most vulnerable" citizens, may begin choosing the first batch of "Bruni scholars" from 30 high schools next year, it was suggested.

But Bruni's plans have already been accused of gaining political mileage even before the launch.

Gilbert Roger, the mayor of Bondy, a town northeast of Paris, said: "Sarkozy is using his starlet to soften his image. She will sprinkle a bit of glitter about, but it is not sufficient."

Riots broke out near Bondy before spreading all over the nation in 2005 when cops were accused of electrocuting two youths in a power station while escaping an identity check, leading to their death. (ANI)