“I knew nothing about rugby,” says Cécile Astier, 25.
At first glance, nothing predestined this young woman trained in LEA (licence in applied foreign languages) to work in a rugby club... And yet!
Originally from Haute-Savoie, she worked in tourism at Lyon airport until March 2020, but the arrival of Covid-19 suddenly caused the end of her contract and a permanent cessation of her work.
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In the heart of summer 2020, Cécile goes to the capital and comes across, "completely by chance", on the first Campus 2023 campaign initiated on social networks.
She decides, thus, to "try the adventure" in her words, and applies for a return to school in March 2021. "It's an opportunity even when you don't have a diploma", she admits.
Trained to professionalize sports structures, apprentices “touch everything”.
The young woman testifies to the plurality of teachings as a real richness.
Indeed, the apprentices benefit from an instruction given by two experienced sports coaches: "They are real role models", continues Cécile.
A club that needs arms
“You have to imagine that the club works like a school except that there are 4 or 5 of us to take care of 250 children,” says Denis Cahenzli, president of the Aulnay-sous-Bois rugby club.
Recently regional champion in senior men's rugby union, the RAC (Rugby Club Aulnay) lacks permanent staff to manage the affairs of the club.
“We don't have enough means to manage (…) There are too many things to do, we are overbooked!
“says the president.
For good reason, volunteers are becoming increasingly rare.
Today, the club has 20, but this figure has not doubled unlike the number of licensees (350).
Add to this, it is above all the lack of consistency in the actions carried out by the volunteers which penalizes the performance of the club.
The president talks about the management of the club's jerseys or even communication.
It may seem like details, but these are, in reality, essential functions that permanent volunteers, due to lack of time, cannot assume.
A partnership where everyone wins
The choice to welcome Cécile to the club on a work-study contract responds to these problems.
The Campus 2023 apprentice offers a permanent presence at the club of at least 3 days a week which does not “cost much”, justifies the director.
Organization of external trips, reception of parents or communication missions: Cécile covers all sectors.
For her part, the young woman describes this opportunity as a real chance of opening up and a springboard for future jobs.
The one who has integrated into the "rugby family" of Aulnay knows that Denis Cahenzli will not be able to keep her at the end of her training for financial reasons.
Applications open!
🗳️#Campus2023 is recruiting on 2 levels of training in the Sport course and 1 level of training in the Tourism course 🎓
Info and applications 👉 https://t.co/EidOZDvBN0
With @proman_interim
Join the @Campus2023 generation 🇫🇷@france2023 pic.twitter. com/EXWnKgIFuK
— CAMPUS2023 (@campus2023) April 25, 2022
Despite everything, the pair agreed to best anticipate the result for Cécile.
"I will help him find a job," he says.
For his part, the president says he is ready to renew the experience of apprentices with two recruits for next season.
Launched with a first start in March 2021, from which Cécile came, Campus 2023 aims to train a new generation of sports professionals in response to the needs of sports structures.
It is expanding this year with three different courses open to 600 future apprentices.
The class of 2022 is, at this very moment, in full recruitment.
