As an international solidarity volunteer in Bordeaux, France, Ndoumbé Pouye supports local development projects. Throughout her career, the young Senegalese woman has promoted a positive view of migration, viewing it as an opportunity to learn, meet new people and experience personal growth.
Ndoumbé Pouye is notable for her gentle yet confident demeanour. Her spontaneous and often subtle smile reflects her open and approachable nature. She exudes a calm energy and inspires confidence without imposing herself, listening before speaking. Since February 2025, she has served as an international solidarity volunteer (VSI) in Bordeaux, supporting local development projects. Pouye believes that migration can be a powerful driver of individual and collective transformation.
Ndoumbé is responsible for supporting the mobilisation of young people internationally. She specialises in international civic service, a programme that enables young people to travel abroad to undertake development work. She believes that such experiences can be powerful drivers of personal and collective growth. They provide opportunities to encounter different social and professional realities, adopt new working methods, collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds and, most importantly, develop the open-mindedness that is essential in an interconnected world. “International experience is much more than just a trip; it’s an opportunity to learn about yourself and others,” she says. She adds that it is a huge plus for young people, recognising the lasting impact such experiences can have on self-confidence, independence, and employability.
Local development lies at the heart of Ndoumbé’s commitment. After obtaining her baccalaureate, she pursued her passion by enrolling at the École Supérieure d’Économie Appliquée (ESEA — formerly the École Nationale d’Economie Appliqué, or ENEA — the College for Applied Economics) at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar. There, she specialised in development facilitation, combining fieldwork, community support and sustainable solutions. After four years of study, Ndoumbé began her professional career with NGOs and start-ups, where she honed her commitment and social innovation skills. Through a friend, she discovered a position supporting international youth mobility in Bordeaux. Having been accepted for the role, she moved to France in February 2025, embarking on a new stage of her journey guided by the conviction that development is built through openness to the world.
For Ndoumbé, migration represents more than just geographical movement. It involves the exchange of knowledge, skills and cultures, creating a form of human wealth that benefits both host communities and countries of origin. Migratory journeys foster intercultural dialogue, strengthen international solidarity and help to break down prejudices. Ndoumbé believes that meeting others also offers a chance to learn more about oneself. She carries herself with natural elegance and simplicity, valuing authenticity above all else. Her attentive, curious gaze reflects her sincere interest in people and the intercultural exchanges she promotes daily, conveying both kindness and determination. Through her posture and demeanour, she embodies committed yet humble youth, fully aware of her role without ever overstating it. Ndoumbé Pouye does not seek attention through extravagance, but through the consistency of her actions with her values.
Travelling was not originally part of Ndoumbé’s plans. Yet it proved to be a formative experience. Outside of her usual environment, she found a supportive professional setting, attentive colleagues and a new outlook on civic engagement. This immersion marked a turning point for her, reinforcing her belief that international mobility is a bridge between cultures, not a break from the past.
Today, Ndoumbé Pouye encourages young people, particularly migrants, to embrace other cultures while staying true to their own. She turns their migratory journeys into sources of strength and opportunity, maintaining their values throughout. Through her commitment, Ndoumbé Pouye embodies the spirit of young people who view migration as an opportunity to learn, share and collaborate. She shows that international engagement often begins with “an unexpected step” and has the power to transform not only one’s own path, but also that of others.
