The festival welcomes volunteers
from around the world 
 

PostED ON 17.10.2025

Wearing red and black, the volunteers were well represented on Thursday morning at a gathering dedicated to a programme supported by the regional prefecture aimed at facilitating the social integration of refugees newly-arrived in France.

© Jean-Luc Mège Photography

Conducted in partnership with the Prefecture of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, this initiative enables refugees to join the festival's team of volunteers. This year, 43 new arrivals donned the red volunteer T-shirt: ‘I loved welcoming people to the Photo Gallery and the Halle Tony-Garnier, it gives me the opportunity to communicate with the public and speak up,’ says Kadiatou, 30, accompanied by the Forum Réfugiés association. This young woman from Guinea overcame her shyness by meeting festivalgoers, adding ‘It even made me want to work as a receptionist!’... The Adéquat group, once again employment partner in this scheme, is inviting all volunteers to take part in a job dating event organised on 6 November at the Tony Parker Academy. Alongside partner associations (Forum Réfugiés, Passerelles Buissonnières, Entraide Pierre Valdo), Alfa3a is also participating in the festival for the first time. Based in Ambérieu-en-Bugey, it provides social support to new arrivals. Thanks to this organisation, Zahra, 26, was able to welcome festivalgoers and distribute programmes at the Halle Tony-Garnier. Having arrived from Kabul a year ago, the young woman with big blue eyes declares her love for Lyon (in flawless French !): ‘I really like this city and I’d like to work here as a hairdresser or make-up artist’. The word is out !

Laura Lépine