They have been supporting the association for many years. They are a volunteer but also a sponsor and part of the CAMELEON family. Discover Céline Gazel’s commitment!
Introduce yourself and tell us how you knew CAMELEON?
My name is Céline. I grew up in Haute-Savoie and went to a Business and Development School in Lyon where I met Laurence Ligier, the founder of CAMELEON. We were in the same promotion and the same option class «Asia». I live in Asia since 1997 and currently in Tokyo for 4 years.
I know CAMELEON since its inception in 1997. In 2003, I was on a business trip to Cebu in the Philippines and I contacted Laurence who lived there. I hadn’t seen her since school. It was my first stay at the CAMELEON Homestay in Iloilo.
Introduce yourself and tell us how you knew CAMELEON?
My name is Céline. I grew up in Haute-Savoie and went to a Business and Development School in Lyon where I met Laurence Ligier, the founder of CAMELEON. We were in the same promotion and the same option class «Asia». I live in Asia since 1997 and currently in Tokyo for 4 years.
I know CAMELEON since its inception in 1997. In 2003, I was on a business trip to Cebu in the Philippines and I contacted Laurence who lived there. I hadn’t seen her since school. It was my first stay at the CAMELEON Homestay in Iloilo.
How are you involved with CAMELEON and since when?
After my first visit, I decided to sponsor one of the girls who were victims of sexual violence protected by CAMELEON. Miriam was 11 years old at the time. We accompanied her throughout her schooling and graduate studies. We were lucky enough to be able to go there almost every year and follow its reconstruction journey. Today, we are still in contact and we look forward to meeting her young daughter. We are currently sponsoring two other girls.
À la suite de mon premier séjour, j’ai décidé de parrainer une des jeunes filles victimes de violences sexuelles protégée par CAMELEON. Miriam avait 11 ans à l’époque, nous l’avons accompagnée tout au long de sa scolarité et de ses études supérieures. Nous avons eu la chance de pouvoir aller sur place quasiment toutes les années et suivre son parcours de reconstruction. Aujourd’hui, nous sommes toujours en contact et nous attendons avec impatience de pouvoir rencontrer sa petite fille. Nous parrainons actuellement 2 autres jeunes filles.
Tell us about your online store, your creations…
At the same time, I created Couture4Cameleon, which was originally just a hobby, and then it became a full-time volunteer job when I arrived in Tokyo.
The idea was to sell handmade accessories with pretty Japanese fabrics at affordable prices, to return the profits to CAMELEON and to communicate on the actions carried out in France and the Philippines via social networks.
I regularly organize and/or participate in various events organized by CAMELEON, such as the Heroes Race, Christmas markets, pop-ups or in-kind donations.
Since the creation of C4C, €26,100 has been collected for CAMELEON
Why did you choose our association?
The fight for the protection of children and for a more united world is particularly close to my heart.
It is a human-sized association that opens its doors to sponsors and volunteers and carries out major awareness-raising activities to prevent sexual violence.
Having visited the site more than a dozen times, I have witnessed the concrete results achieved in the Philippines and France over the past 25 years.
What do these solidarity experiences bring to your daily life?
I’m very proud of my three sponsored children. I had the chance to meet them on the spot and to see them grow up safe from violence once they became beneficiaries of the association. I like to think that it is also thanks to us that they are able to get out of it, to get an education and look forward to a bright future.
Being an actor of change, giving meaning to my life, it’s a real motivation but also a huge satisfaction.
What were your best memories with CAMELEON?
One of my best memories is the graduation ceremony of Miriam, our first sponsored child. Without a mother, she asked me to be by her side and it was very moving. We were introduced to his entire family and had dinner with them in the evening.
Would you have a word to encourage new volunteers to join CAMELEON’s big family?
There are a thousand and one ways to help the association. Everyone can find the formula that suits him best according to his means and his time.
For those who don’t want/can’t engage in sponsorship, you can:
- talk about the association to your direct entourage,
- follow the various accounts on social networks,
- become a volunteer,
- participate in events throughout the year with your colleagues/family/friends.
Everyone at his level can do something and in this regard I thank from the bottom of my heart all the people who support me and help me to make known C4C online shop for committed and supportive purchases.
Describe the association CAMELEON in one sentence.
It is time to think about a new world, to end sexual violence and to protect our children. CAMELEON acts concretely in this direction on a daily basis.