Behind every organization, there is a story. The story of the New International Community (NCI) was born from a friendship, a shared field experience, and a common vision: to build lasting bridges between France and Benin through the commitment of youth.
The Spark: A Meeting, An Ambition
NCI is the result of a deep conviction, forged by its two co-founders, Cyril Le Clech and Sergio Gandonou. Their meeting during a volunteer mission was the starting point. By living the transformative experience of mobility themselves, they also noted the obstacles that hold back many young people: the lack of information, the complexity of the systems, and the difficulty in creating projects with a real and reciprocal impact. It was from this observation that the desire to create a different structure was born, designed on an axis of balanced cooperation.
Two Founders, One Binational Vision
At the heart of the project are Cyril Le Clech, based in France, and Sergio Gandonou, in Benin. This binational leadership is not a detail; it is the DNA of NCI. It embodies our will to act in a logic of equitable partnership, where strategies are co-constructed and not imposed. Cyril brings his knowledge of European mobility mechanisms, while Sergio ensures local anchoring and the relevance of actions carried out in Benin, guaranteeing that each project responds to a real need.
From Idea to Action: The Birth of NCI
Officially founded in July 2024, NCI has a clear mission: to democratize access to international engagement to make it a true lever for skills development and concrete solidarity. This ambition is already translating into strong actions, such as establishing new partnerships for youth mobility and the plan to open an autonomous branch in Abomey-Calavi by the end of 2025, to sustain our impact on the ground.
"We didn't just want to 'send' volunteers. We wanted to create a community, an ecosystem where young people from Europe and Africa can learn from each other and build sustainable solutions together."– Sergio Gandonou & Cyril Le Clech, Co-founders
A Meaningful Commitment
The story of NCI is that of a youth that refuses to be a spectator of the world and chooses to be an actor in it. It is an invitation to join a movement where every experience counts and where solidarity is built through collective action and mutual respect. By sharing their vision, Cyril and Sergio hope to inspire many other young people to take the first step.