A friendly moment of exchange between project leaders
Since 2024, La Guilde has offered associations benefiting from its programs, including the flagship program “ Territorialized Platform for Microprojects » (PTMP), a structured support program that goes far beyond simple financial support. Through information webinars, regular meetings, and multi-thematic technical and operational training covering the various methodological tools for managing development projects (security, partnership dynamics), the aim is to equip, assemble, and support, in a sustainable manner, international solidarity project leaders by enabling them to ensure progress and adapt their projects to the challenges on the ground. Among these means, one format stands out for its conviviality and unifying power: the "Mornings".
Proposed for the first time in June 2024, this initiative responds to a simple but essential need: to offer French associations a space for collective expression, sharing of experiences, and advice of all kinds. This meeting, organized monthly, is reserved for winners of La Guilde's Microprojects programs.
These two hours of digital exchange are dedicated to practical issues; the aim is to give voice to peers, to share the reality on the ground, to relay tools, and to promote connections. Each Morning Session is designed around a specific participation criterion: it can be a country, a field of action, a specific theme, or a class of winners. Based on this criterion, a selection of associations is invited, with a limit of 10 project leaders. This format promotes exchanges between organizations facing similar challenges, and encourages the sharing of useful contacts between participants.
The morning sessions are led by the project managers, who take turns each month as facilitators, adopting an active listening stance and giving the floor to the associations so that they can express themselves freely. Some morning sessions are organized with the field coordinators present in the various base camps of the Guild in order to have an animation coming from the field, and to improve contacts between project leaders and coordinators. Representatives are indeed present in certain countries of intervention in order to closely monitor the microprojects financed by La Guilde, and to offer support to the associations present on site and who wish it. We find Marie Armel Savidan in Dakar, Senegal, Romain Butticker in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, but also in Beryouth, Lebanon Irène Beucler, and finally Sophie Chevaleyre in Colombia.
Example of a word cloud that the project leaders present at the December 2024 morning meeting developed together regarding the difficulties encountered in the context of their projects.
Education in West Africa during the last Morning Show on April 2, 2025
The final meeting, organized on April 2 by Héloïse Ruban, project manager at La Guilde, Marie Armel Savidan, coordinator in Senegal, and Fadoua Hijaoui, intern supporting the Microprojects program, brought together associations involved in educational projects in West Africa, particularly in Benin, Senegal, and Togo. The main objective was to address the issues of basic education and vocational training. After a roundtable presentation of each of the associations and their projects, the participants positioned themselves on the 'project timeline' by indicating their progress (launch, implementation, evaluation). This was a discreet way to clarify the playing field and the results expected by each association. The three main themes that emerged from the discussions were then addressed: interactions with regional authorities, project sustainability, and results and impacts at the local level.
The associations that had the opportunity to be present and participated in this session were: Voiles Sans Frontières (Senegal), Association Saint-Amandoise d'Aide aux Lépreux (Senegal), Nio Far Association (Senegal), NATIFS (Senegal), Main de Consolation (Benin), Nova (Benin) and Terre Citoyenne et Solidaire (Togo). A diversity of actors around a range of common challenges. A dynamic to be continued in an excessive manner. The exchanges were fruitful: concrete feedback, shared problems, and above all, a collective ambition to take advantage of this networking. The feedback was very positive and showed a willingness of the participants to participate in future morning sessions.
“The projects presented were very interesting and I always think it is useful to benefit from feedback from all the managers.”
“It is definitely enriching to discover the actions carried out and the concrete solutions provided by each person.”
Next mornings
Hosted by Maxime Pinault, the next “morning sessions” will take place online on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. All places have already been reserved by associations funded in 2024, clearly demonstrating the success of this support system and the growing interest of the winning associations in such a system.
By promoting the expression of community groups and the collective dimension, the Morning Meetings have become a valuable support tool, the emblem of intelligent cooperation in the field. This method not only promotes the strengthening of ongoing projects, but also the development of a climate of cooperation and mutual learning.
Coming soon, morning sessions with Romain Butticker, coordinator of La Guilde in Cambodia, with Sophie Chevaleyre present in Bogota, Colombia to coordinate La Guilde's activities, and with Irène Beucler in Lebanon. Associations that have won La Guilde's calls for projects, stay tuned!