This association aims to support humanitarian aid in the developping countries, and at the present time acts in Madagascar.
History of the association
Sister Valerie is a "Franciscan Missionnary of Mary", but she is also a doctor, and wants to practise both her profession and her vocation. In September 1998, she leaves France for Madagascar. She works a few months in Tananarive at the sisters' clinic. Then spends 6 months of intensive training of Malagasy language with Ambositra benedictin sisters. Around 1 year after she arrived in Madagascar, she is appointed doctor of the free health center in Ambohinaorina village, Ambalavao area, in Fianarantsoa province.
In June 2001, her mother, Chantal, comes to visit her and spends 3 weeks in the village. Being back in France, she discusses with her husband and her friends, looking for the best way to send medecines to Madagascar. They decide to create an association, which allows them to get a more "serious" and highly regarded status. Being a legalised association is also the condition for working with "Aviation Sans Frontières", which provide carriage for pharmaceuticals and small medical equipment.
The 1st official meeting takes place on December 17th, 2001, NIRINA association is registered on the 8th of January 2002 at the subprefecture of Romorantin-Lanthenay (Loir et Cher, France), and the first pharmaceutical parcels are sent in May-June 2002!
Last thing, you should know that Nirina is the firstname of a joyful little girl met over there ...
What we do
The typical actions conducted to provide a support to Malagasy people are the following:
- Sending of pharmaceuticals and small medical equipment with the help of ASF
- Sending of clothes, toys, ... by several ways (by plane or by boat, depending on the moment and the means !)
- Selling of Malagasy handicrafts, on trade fairs, exhibitions, or by order
- Exceptional actions (collections, deposits, conferences, ...)
The association in Madagascar
In order to ensure the good delivery of parcels in Madagascar, the association has several local contacts :
- The free health center in Ambohinaorina
- The center of women promotion in Fianarantsoa
- The sisters' clinic in Tananarive
- The center "Ave Maria" in Antsirabe
