I’m one of the
girls from Madagascar who have had the chance to study.
My name is Maminirina. I was born and raised in Madagascar, surrounded by my parents and my five sisters. We lived in the city, and my parents always wanted us to be able to pursue our education. After graduating from high school, I was fortunate to receive a scholarship to continue my university studies abroad.
Today, just like two of my sisters, I have built a home in Europe.
Today, when I look back, I see a country in recovery.
How can one remain indifferent to such poverty? I made it through the eye of the needle, but how many children have to spend their youth helping their parents, or simply have no access to a decent school within a reasonable distance from their home?
Many over the age of 15 are still illiterate…
I couldn’t remain inactive in the face of this situation. Together with my sisters, our husbands, and a few friends, we founded EDI Madagascar in January 2015.
In August 2017, with trusted individuals still based in Madagascar, we established a sister NGO.
This way, we have local representatives who can ensure that the money and donations reach their intended destination and are used exclusively for their intended purposes.
In January 2018, after just 3 years of existence, we were able to prove to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Luxembourg that we had the necessary maturity to become a Development NGO.
Through this website and our Facebook page, we will share with you the daily life of our association: fundraising or awareness campaigns in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the surrounding region, as well as development projects in Madagascar.
We will also share the association’s financial statements with our members, ensuring the transparency needed to build a trusting relationship.
Maminirina, founder of the association
Originally from Madagascar, I live in Luxembourg, but I’m still very attached to my country of origin, which is now one of the poorest countries in the world.
Should I be ashamed of my standard of living when misery is the companion of most of my compatriots? It’s a question I’ve often asked myself, and Coluche’s answer in song suits me well: “It’s not really my fault that some people are hungry, but it would be if we didn’t do anything about it”.
So I help as I can, here and there. Not enough. Drops of water in a vast ocean. But I like to quote Mother Theresa: “We realize that what we do is only a drop in the ocean. But if that drop didn’t exist in the ocean, it would be missing.”
It is absolutely essential to break the cycle of poverty. Since today’s children will be tomorrow’s decision-makers, I am convinced that this can be achieved by providing access to education for all, and by improving conditions and quality.
I’m proud to be part of the NGO EDI Madagascar, because we focus on helping Madagascar’s underprivileged children, and we’re working to bring about sustainable development. I’d like to thank all the team and volunteers, and I’d also like to thank the team on the ground at our sister NGO MITIA Madagasikara.
And I encourage all those who read this to join us, because by becoming a member of EDI Madagascar, you’ll be adding your drop to ours and helping children whose most basic physiological needs aren’t even being met.
Jeanne Ranaivoson,
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Thank you,
Jean-Marie
Jeanne
Lala
Rina
Patrick
William
Lisa
