Raymond Weber Succeeds Félix Buchler as SOS Faim President

On Monday 9 June 2018, SOS Faim held its Annual General Meeting (General Assembly) at the Altrimenti Cultural Centre in Luxembourg city where Raymond Weber succeeded Félix Büchler as President of the organisation.

In his introduction, President Félix Buchler recalled that three executives of one of SOS Faim's partners in Niger, Alternative Espaces Citoyens, are improperly imprisoned in their country. While SOS Faim is currently engaged in an intense advocacy for their release, this situation illustrates that human rights are being increasingly violated in a growing number of countries and that, without democracy, no "development" is not possible.

In 2017, through its Framework Agreement for Cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, SOS Faim has financed and supported more than 20 partners in Africa, transferring more than €1,800,000. In addition, SOS Faim has continued to implement the mandate of the Ministry 'Agri +', a device for transforming rural family farms through access to adapted financing and an agricultural training programme.

Finally, in Luxembourg, SOS Faim successfully continued its campaign "Let's change the menu!" which invites the public to change their eating habits. An interactive map listing almost 100 responsible citizen production or consumption initiatives is online and the second Food Alternatives Market was organised at Tramschapp in 2017.

The many activities of the NGO were carried out by a team of 11 dedicated people under the supervision of the Board of Directors. The Meeting approved the accounts of SOS Faim, audited by GSL Revision, and granted discharge to the directors. It then approved the 2018 budget of more than €3,300,000.

Five new members came to strengthen the General Assembly: Linda Ortolani, Rachel Reckinger, Christian Schmitz, Elisabeth Seimetz and Alou Sidibé.

At the end of the Statutory Part, Raymond Weber, member of the Board of Directors, returned to the Assembly the Porto-Novo Meetings in Benin which brought together around 30 people and partners of SOS Faim reflect together on collective action for social change.

In 2018, SOS Faim will celebrate 25 years and several activities will be planned at the end of the year. The final programme will be announced shortly.

Finally, SOS Faim has a new President, Raymond Weber who succeeds Félix Buchler: after five years of Presidency, the latter felt it was time to pass the torch to younger. Félix Buchler remains on the Board of Directors.​