This past weekend, Serve the City Paris had the pleasure of showcasing our work at the European Aquatics Championships 2026, in the ‘Espace Engagement’. This was less about marketing and more about solidarity, sending the message that sport has a place in integration, empowerment, and dignity.
Alongside our peers from Kabubu, Équipe Sans Frontières Paris, and Institut de l’Engagement, we welcomed visitors to learn who we are, what we do, and more importantly, why it matters to the people we serve. Each of our associations represents volunteers who give freely of their time to a cause that opens doors, builds friendships, and reminds those in exile from their home countries that they are welcome here in Paris.
None of this would have been possible without the vision of Liz Gaudin and the support of the Fédération Française de Natation, whose team put in countless hours coordinating with us. Beyond hosting our booth, the FFN gave our youth beneficiaries a week-long swim course at the National Aquatic Centre in July, and will welcome our associations to watch the championship finals next week. All pro bono. All because they share our belief in the power of sport to unite.
We’d also be remiss not to mention Tanguy MARZIN and the Change for Sport team at ChangeNOW, where our sport programs for migrants first connected with the FFN. Incredible things happen when we gather to exchange ideas.
Then on August 14, we had the privilege of returning to the championships with volunteers and beneficiaries to watch join the festivities as spectators. We were able to spend the morning watching finals competitions across numerous men’s and women’s singles and relays events. We had so much fun over the two weeks at the championships!
By Nate Koehler
