Volunteers from all over the world

PostED ON 18.10.2024

Lebanon, Colombia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Congo. The Festival Village took on a United Nations vibe on Thursday morning at a meeting held to promote ‘Integration Week’, a scheme designed to facilitate the social integration of refugees arriving in France for the first time. 

© Jean Luc Mège

Thanks to this initiative, run in partnership with the Prefecture of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, refugees are joining the team of volunteers. Among the 63 new recruits this year is Brahim Youssouf Tahir, 29: “This will be my first volunteering experience, and I'll be helping to welcome the public at the Award Presentation Ceremony”. It's a great way to start things off for the young man, who is supported by the Forum Réfugiés association and has just completed his Master's degree in management. Liyis Rocio Rivas, 45, is in an infectiously good mood as she dons the famous red jersey of the volunteers for the first time. A member of Entraide Pierre Valdo, this former accountant and marketing and communications student is determined to become a good “ambassador of Colombian culture” in Saint-Etienne, where she now resides. Among the associations participating in Integration Week, Passerelles Buissonnières invited Aïchatou Oumarou to join the team of volunteers: “If I have free time, I might as well put it to good use!” Designer of the fashion accessory brand Shaïa, this young Nigerian has already brightened up the days of many festivalgoers at the Village DVD shop. The volunteers have also been invited to the job dating event organised on  November 12th at the Tony Parker Academy by Adéquat, the employment partner of the initiative. It's a great way to demonstrate their commitment to the festival and showcase their talents. 

Laura Lépine