When Trust Turns into Recognition
Training UNICEF staff last year was already a great source of pride for our team. This year, the emotion was even stronger when the UN Clinic contacted us for a new collaboration involving several United Nations agencies, without any prior outreach on our part. This renewed trust is a strong signal of the relevance and credibility of our work.
Our mission was to strengthen theoretical and practical first aid knowledge in order to enable a rapid and appropriate response to medical emergencies in the workplace. Tsito and Ny Ony carried out a three-week mission in southern Madagascar, a region rich in culture yet challenging to access.
Beyond the training sessions themselves, human encounters gave true meaning to this mission. The testimony of Mamy, a UNICEF staff member whose arm still bears the marks of a poorly treated fracture, deeply moved our team. His words — “If only I had known that a simple piece of wood and a strip of cloth could have prevented all this…” — powerfully remind us why such training is essential. The very positive feedback from participants and organizers confirms the real impact of this action and strengthens our determination.
“If only I had known that a simple piece of wood and a strip of cloth could have prevented all this…”
FA-WAY: Planting Today to Save Tomorrow
After two years of implementation, the FA-WAY project was officially concluded in the four intervention districts of eastern Madagascar. Aimed at women and young people, the project sought to sustainably strengthen local first aid capacities.
The results speak for themselves: 1,023 women and young people received comprehensive basic first aid training, while 40 participants were trained as first aid instructors. To ensure sustainability, training kits were handed over to the Regional Directorate of Youth and Sports during official closing ceremonies organized in each district.
Beyond the numbers, FA-WAY represents better-prepared communities, lives potentially saved, and knowledge that continues to be passed on. Building on this success, we are considering a new phase to extend the project to the western-central regions of Madagascar, particularly in Mandoto, Malaimbandy, Miandrivazo and Morondava.
Turning the Unexpected into Opportunities
The year was also marked by training activities that, although initially planned, had to be postponed due to circumstances beyond our control. Unexpectedly, these activities were ultimately carried out during the final months of the year, just before our annual break.
First aid training for the staff of the Swiss Embassy in Madagascar, delayed by institutional changes, was held in December. It provided an opportunity for us to present our activities in a concrete way and to express our appreciation for the support received as a Swiss organization.
Another training session, conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Public Security and aimed at police officers, was made possible thanks to remarkable local mobilization in Ambatondrazaka. As a result, 79 police officers from the Alaotra Mangoro region strengthened their first aid skills—an initiative already praised by regional authorities.
Finally, training for managers of care centers under the Ministry of Population and Social Solidarity helped strengthen prevention, safety and child care practices. The strong interest shown by participants and the very positive evaluation results confirm the usefulness and impact of these actions.
Conclusion
This year taught us an essential lesson: despite unexpected challenges, obstacles and moments of doubt, moving forward with conviction, perseverance and faith in our tasks as AiNA soa always opens new paths. Every challenge overcome, every training delivered and every human encounter reminded us that lasting impact is built through consistency and genuine commitment.
As the year comes to an end, we wish everyone joyful holiday celebrations and a new year filled with hope, solidarity and shared success.