25 mars 2025 • ACTUALITÉS
Cristina Biciila joined Ateliere Fara Frontiere (AFF)- an organisation within Groupe SOS– as General Manager in January 2025. With a solid background in management and organisational development, she brings a fresh dynamic to this Romanian organisation dedicated to social and professional inclusion and the circular economy. In this interview, she shares her journey and vision for AFF.
Could you tell us about your professional background and what led you to join Ateliere Fara Frontiere?
Cristina Biciila: My career spans the corporate, entrepreneurial, and non-profit sectors. I spent ten years at Coca-Cola in communication and public affairs before moving into entrepreneurship, launching creative workplace initiatives and managing my family’s bread manufacturing business. My transition to the non-profit sector began with a role in children’s welfare, followed by eight years at Danone, where I developed a health education organisation and later worked on B Corp certification as Sustainability Manager for Central and Eastern Europe. A leadership programme in the US in 2018 further strengthened my expertise in non-profit management and fundraising.
If you had to describe Ateliere Fara Frontiere to someone unfamiliar with it (its activities, its mission, and the audience it serves) how would you explain it?
Ateliere Fara Frontiere (AFF) helps vulnerable individuals reintegrate into the labour market through a two-year programme combining employment, skills training, and counselling. What makes us unique is our integration of social reintegration with circular economy workshops, which create both job opportunities and environmental benefits. We believe in people’s potential and the importance of using resources responsibly.
« We believe in people’s potential and the importance of using resources responsibly. »
Could you summarise AFF’s various activities?
AFF supports the professional reintegration of vulnerable individuals through four key initiatives. EduClick refurbishes and donates 4,000 computers annually to schools. ReMesh upcycles advertising banners into bags and accessories. Ferma Bio&Co, an organic farm near Bucharest, employs local communities and promotes sustainable agriculture. LogieTic offers logistics, packaging, and labelling services, with a focus on inclusivity. Both LogieTic and ReMesh operate as protected units, ensuring at least 30% of employees have disabilities.
What are the main obstacles that vulnerable individuals face in professional integration?
Vulnerabilities often overlap : disabilities, lack of education, and housing insecurity frequently go hand in hand. The greatest challenge is rebuilding self-confidence, as many believe they are unemployable. AFF provides work experience, essential skills training (CV writing, digital literacy, financial management), and counselling to help individuals regain confidence and successfully transition into the job market.
Groupe SOS is convinced that employment is an essential aspect of integration into society. This is why its organisations are mobilised daily to lift barriers to employment (access to housing, transport, digital gap, etc.) and provide individualised follow-ups toward work inclusion for the most excluded.
Learn more about Groupe SOS’ action for people distant from employment
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