Accompany the launching of a new association

At AIC the idea of twinning (even if it wasn't called that yet) came from the meeting of two associations from two very different cultures : France and Madagascar. The French association, motivated by the huge needs, by the enormous potential of the Madagascar association, coommitted itself to support the training of leaders and volunteers through encouraging their participation in various international events and seminars. At the same time it started financing mini-projects of nutrition, literacy and social promotion.

Here is the testimony of Rose de Lima Ramanankavana, National President of AIC-Madagascar.

AIC-Madagascar volunteers as well as St Vincent teams in France have been supporting one another since 1988. Through the years aid was given which enabled us to build the Ste Louise House, for instance. Another example is the financial support for the salary of the supervisor of the school project of AIC Manakara, paid regularly since 1992.

Starting in 1999 we received substantial funding to feed the children for whom we care. This aid was also extended to Anosizato, Ankadisoa and Fianarantsoa.
Several small projects are supported by French teams (for example, in 1995, the salary of a night watchman and cook as well as funds for providing refreshments for two years; 1998-2000, aid to fund the school cafeteria for 160 children, cost of schooling of children from several local groups; in 2001, meeting urgent needs by financing the project "First a Roof").
All of this enhanced the development of AIC-Madagascar, which started new groups in other towns and villages, and consolidated the current 13 groups.

In 1997 and 1999, young French women cane to work with our children for a month and a half, after a long work of preparation of two years, through exchanges of mail. This happened with the help of the French team who oriented these women toward our actions. Each time, am large load of school suplies and toys were presented to us, and gave our children much joy. Very recently, one of the young French women suggested she might write her thesis on AIC!

In May and July 2001, a providential donation was granted to AIC-Madagascar, thanks to the support of the French St Vincent teams.
In 220 and 201, the French federation participates in the travelling costs of the local Leader of Africa-Madagascar.

This long list of subsidies, aid, visits and support from the French teams and AIC-Madagascar implies our equal participation in human and friendly relationships which were born through the years. Indeed, as the young women who visited pointed out : "we gave a lot from a material, financial and physical point of view; but we received more on the human front through the love we shared, through those invisible treasures we found by living with people form Madagascar".