August 26th was Women’s Equality Day in the United States. This day commemorates the 1920 adoption of the 19th Amendment of the US Constitution, which prohibits States and the Federal Government from denying US citizens the right to vote on on the basis of sex. It is also the moment to celebrate the importance of the role and the involvement of women in history and in our current societies.

On this occasion, we wanted to highlight the founder of EFBA, Gabrielle Durana, her history, her experience and her actions for EFBA.

Where do you come from and where did you grow up? I was born in Buenos Aires in Argentina and when I was 6 years old I moved to France, in Essonne (Paris suburb), where I grew up.

When did you arrive in San Francisco? I have been living in San Francisco since 2004. Before moving here, I had been there dozens of times on vacation since 2000.

  What do you like about this city? San Francisco combines many things I love: the futuristic side (my father is an inventor), multiculturalism, the great outdoors and the proximity of nature.

Why did start EFBA? I found it unfair that only the children of rich people could keep their language(s) by going to an international school. What about others? Plurilingualism should be for everyone. We would live in a much more open and peaceful world, if we all knew 5 or 6 languages, ​​and if we were interested and able to understand the cultures of others.

What is EFBA? It is a part-time school model aimed to support children becoming bilingual and bicultural. We developed it in French but it can be applied in any language.

What challenges did/ do you meet? And what are the successes? The sustainability of the association reminds me of the Myth of Sisyphus, it’s a challenge that is perpetually renewed. Creating and maintaining a coalition of support for the cause requires a lot of energy. My greatest achievement is that if one day I wanted to commit to another civic or literary project, I know the association could continue to develop and serve thousands of children without me. The foundations are solid and the model works.

What was a great moment at EFBA? There were many small and big joys. Certainly one of the most touching moments was when a former EFBA student came back and invited me to his highschool graduation. He told me that the association and the taekwondo had represented the best environment to grow in addition to his regular school and his family. I was proud to hire him as a camp counselor in our summer camps. Ten years ago he had been my student!

What future do you see for EFBA? One day, I would like our model to serve as a basis within a public policy that democratizes access to French education abroad. This same model could enable immigrant children to keep their mother tongue and others to become bilingual.

What advice would you give to people who start their non-profit? The Market responds to a certain type of problem: the creation of wealth and the allocation of resources. The State prepares the future, sets the rules of the game, protects the most vulnerable people and corrects social injustices. Between the State and the Market, there is room for innovative solutions, solidarity and citizen initiatives, they are the third sector. To create a non-profit organization, it is necessary to choose a mission which you deeply believe in, because there will be ups and downs and what will give you the strength to continue is your conviction that the mission is essential. The beauty of a non-profit organization is that it usually promotes your values ​​and you have the opportunity to live a fulfilled life in which your actions are in line with your values. So, before you commit you must make a list of what is important for you, because social entrepreneurship is like being in love, you think about it all the time. You have to start small and imagine the impact of the mission on a larger scale. Sometimes it takes a lifetime to accomplish a dream. 

If you were a dish? Chaplis kebab, a kind of marinated meat cooked flat. The Afghan rice is to die for.

If you were a quote? We are a learning organization.

If you were a word? Liberty

If you were an object? A space rocket

If you were a subject taught at school? Empathy

If you were a city? Babylon

Interview led by Eva Gimello – Development & Outreach Associate

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