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Since 2017, Cécile Coudreau has been president of AJOE. The dance teacher continues the association's spirit of enabling children to grow through cultural and sporting activities.
"If someone had told me that thirty years ago, I'd never have believed it," smiles Cécile Coudreau, sitting on the parquet floor of the Lorient dance hall. It was through dance, her profession, that Cécile Coudreau joined the Ajoe family. After a career as a professional dancer, first in France, then in Saint-Barth, she suggested to the former president of Ajoeto take over the association's dance classes. "I just wanted to share my passion," says the woman who has always been involved with associations.
Little by little, Cécile Coudreau became more and more involved in the running of Ajoe. She helped out here and there, particularly during film screenings. Eventually, she put herself forward as president in 2017. "I was quite honored, they trusted me in my state of mind," shares the president. But I wasn't aware of the task that lay ahead. "In June, she took the helm of Ajoe, in September, Irma hit the island. "At that point, we were trying to get the children's activities back on track as quickly as possible," says the fifty-something. We always find solutions. "
As always, Ajoe's volunteers go to great lengths, to achieve their goal of offering members sporting and cultural activities. The discipline that sport can give, and the curiosity that culture can bring, is the basis for children," insists Cécile Coudreau. When I see them happy to have won a medal, I say to myself, that's it, we've fulfilled the contract. "
"I think it's going to be a great party".
Ajoe is a surf, soccer and dance school, as well as rollerblading, boxing, an open-air cinema and the Fête du Vent. There's something for everyone. And it's all thanks to some fifty volunteers. Ajoe is like a family, it's very diverse," says the dance teacher. Some people were born here, others have only recently arrived. "But they all share the same spirit: the gift of self that volunteering implies. "It's natural, we all do it from the heart," she assures us. I'm very proud to be the president of this association. "And for the past few months, the volunteers have been working on a big project: Ajoe's 50th anniversary.
This weekend, from October 11 to 13, three days of festivities are planned for the event. "I think it's going to be a great party," says Cécile Coudreau. With the usual Cross du Vent, tournaments of all kinds, a lottery and musical entertainment, the volunteers have pulled out all the stops to celebrate this anniversary. It's a huge 50 years," says Cécile Coudreau, "and I hope we'll inspire our children to carry on. But one thing's for sure: the president will continue "to follow the Ajoe family".
