For me, AVSF is like a big family!

Charlène, please tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Charlène Nicolay, I am 30 years old, and I live in the Rhône-Alpes region. I have an educational background in agricultural development, and I have always been particularly interested in international topics. In agronomic engineering school, I was more interested in the social, political, and economic aspects of agriculture than the technical aspects.

 
Why did you decide to volunteer for AVSF?

I first heard about AVSF when I was a student, and I became a member shortly after. I have been giving my time to this association since 2006 mainly because I truly believe in the effectiveness and the relevance of our activities on the ground. For me, AVSF is like a big family that is extremely devoted to helping disadvantaged smallholders.

Sometimes it can be difficult to get motivated for an association the size of AVSF, whose activities are often very complex and are carried out so far away. But the other AVSF members always find a way to remotivate me. AVSF is full of kind and dynamic people who all share a common vision of international solidarity.

To be honest, I also volunteer for AVSF because I get a lot out of it too. I have learned a great deal about the different countries where AVSF works, agricultural policy, development techniques, the democratic functioning of an association, and I have also gotten some experience speaking at association-related events.

What types of work do AVSF volunteers do?

Each volunteer delegation performs different types of work. I lead AVSF’s volunteer network in the Rhône-Alpes region, and we:

• organize and participate in numerous local events: film screenings followed by discussion, the Semaine de la solidarité internationale, the Quinzaine du commerce équitable, etc.;
• receive AVSF expatriates and project partners, organizing discussions with them and taking them to visit some of our local activities and meet crop and livestock farmers in the Rhône-Alpes region;
• network with local organizations for international solidarity, communities, and people in the agricultural world.

I find it fascinating to facilitate exchange between smallholders in France and the South who, despite living in completely different contexts, always share very similar concerns, struggles, practices, and great ideas.

In order to carry out these activities and develop new ones, AVSF needs volunteers to support smallholder families. Feel free to join us!

If you would like to join AVSF in the Rhônes-Alpes region, please contact Charlène NICOLAY +33 (0)6 78 78 34 85

If you would like to join AVSF in other regions, please contact Elisabeth MULLER, Secretary for Association Life - +33 (0)6 15 48 89 11