When Morgane asked me to do a series of portraits of the associations supported by the DEMAIN endowment fund, I accepted without considering the impact of this assignment. I assumed the project would be an ordinary job.
But there was nothing ordinary about the people I met.

I met the founders of associations that move mountains. Each, in their own way, impressed me with the strength of their commitment, their pugnacity, and their charisma. They also helped me understand that a sense of community is possible in a world dominated by egos. Their belief in community is so powerful that it enables them to surround themselves with the best people. This assignment sparked my interest in associations; my parents always taught me to respect others and to help my family and friends, but I struggle to remember them ever getting involved. Morgane has a different background. She grew up with the awareness that everyone can, at their level, compensate for inequality of opportunity. She launched the DEMAIN program with the conviction that combining several concrete actions would allow many children to access education and culture. Two years later, the facts speak for themselves: thanks to your incredible engagement with our solidarity initiatives, two million euros have already been raised.

These encounters and figures made me think. Suddenly, commitment seemed natural, and I now aspire to align my actions with my convictions. Until now, I lacked examples around me to encourage my engagement and felt I didn't have enough time. Since then, I've been developing my project. Commitment involves responsibility. I ask around and contact associations. Most follow the school calendar and don't accept new volunteers during the year. I remain patient. I know that one day, soon, tomorrow, I'll be doing my part.

Géraldine Dormoy