Meeting partners in the French cultural network; exchanging with institutional actors; following up with volunteers in the field and imagining new missions: these were the objectives of the mission carried out in India and Bhutan by Sophie Bonacina, Francophonie programme officer at the volunteering hub.
La Guilde's presence in India and Bhutan is rapidly expanding, dedicated to promoting French language and volunteerism. In 2025, 38 volunteers were deployed to India, making it the fourth largest destination for La Guilde's Civic Service placements. Five partners are currently involved there in missions related to French language and culture. In Bhutan, La Guilde sent the only French volunteer currently in the country in 2025. In both contexts, the challenge now is to consolidate and broaden partnerships in order to increase the number of volunteers sent in the coming years.
Meetings and partnership prospects within the Alliance Française network in India
During this Francophonie Month, Sophie embarked on a journey to several Alliance Française branches in India, aiming to strengthen existing ties and initiate new partnerships in support of international volunteering. This trip reflects La Guilde's commitment to promoting solidarity and solidarity in service of the French language and Francophone cultures.
During her visit to Kolkata on March 8, she was notably welcomed at the Victoria Memorial for a musical evening entitled "A Night of Stars," a refined and moving celebration of the Francophone repertoire, in the presence of the Consulate General and the Alliance Française of Bengal. This special moment of sharing allowed for the renewal of a promising dialogue with the Alliance Française and the outlining of a renewed collaboration focused on hosting volunteers involved in cultural and educational projects.
New opportunities have also opened up for the Alliance Française of Delhi, the fifth largest Alliance Française in the world. Discussions have led to plans to send several volunteers as early as next September. These civic service missions, at the crossroads of culture, education, and the promotion of the French language, will offer young participants a rich and meaningful field of action.
Meeting with Patricia Loison,
director of the Alliance Française in Delhi
This field mission finally led Sophie to meet the teams at the French Institute in India, paving the way for the establishment of new civic service missions, including three in Bengal. Among these are one or two missions within universities, as French language assistants. A collaboration with a Montessori school is also under consideration, demonstrating the diversity of forms of engagement being explored.
Meeting with Stéphanie Orfila and Emilie Jacament from the French Institute
in India and Yasar Ahmad, national representative of France Volontaires
Through these meetings, a whole dynamic of cooperation is strengthened, driven by the conviction that youth and the French language constitute powerful levers for dialogue and solidarity between territories.
Visit to the Royal Academy of Bhutan with Paul, the only French volunteer in the country
In Bhutan, the mission included a visit to Paul Loyrette, a volunteer dedicated to teaching French at the Royal Academy. He works with nearly 200 students, from middle school to high school, in an educational setting that combines academic rigor with personal development.
His work takes place within a context where French is gradually developing within the education system. In line with this trend, future prospects are already emerging: an international solidarity volunteering (VSI) mission could be established as early as 2027 within a university institution dedicated to languages and cultures, affiliated with the Royal University.
The Guild at the heart of a partnership between the French Embassy in India and the Royal Academy of Bhutan
Paul's presence at the Royal Academy is part of a structured partnership, made possible thanks to the support of the French Embassy in India. This initiative has fostered an interesting dynamic around the French language in Bhutan, helping to firmly establish the teaching of French within the local educational landscape.
In this context, the Alliance Française of Bengal plays a key role by training around fifteen Bhutanese teachers who work in various schools across the country. These teachers recently passed the DELF A1 level exam and are now preparing to take the A2 level exam in July, demonstrating sustained and encouraging progress.
This initiative is part of the "Bhutanese Baccalaureate," a recent educational program in which French has been introduced as a language of instruction. To date, twenty-four schools are participating in this program, marking a significant step in the development and structuring of French language and culture in Bhutan.