As a volunteer for the SARD Initiative in its earliest stages Alexandra:

• Helped conduct consultations via telephone and later in person with civil society organizations from all over the world.

• Analyzed (together with the other SARD-Initiative team members) the needs most often expressed by women, agricultural workers, youth, indigenous peoples, nongovernmental organizations, scientists and rural communities in order to help formulate proposals on the way forward for FAO to work better with civil society in effectively promoting and achieving sustainable agriculture and rural development.

• Conducted various research on international treaties related to rural development, with the objective of discerning how the international community was treating sustainable agriculture and rural development. Particularly interested in rural women's rights, she was also given the chance to participate in research projects in this area.

• Her exposure to this rich environment where ideas where constantly exchanged and debated, opened her eyes to the many current obstacles faced by rural communities and inspired her to embark on her following journey: law school.