Management Board

Together with my husband Christian I travelled to Madagascar for the first time in summer 2015. The people on this huge island have become very dear to my heart ever since. After my training as a dietician I got to know Nicole and was able to do a voluntary service with AiNA soa in 2018. I was thrilled to see how much power and love all the team members put into their work to impart knowledge about first aid and other health issues to the people in Madagascar. Therefore, I am all the more pleased to be able to continue my commitment to AiNA soa.

In autumn 2019 I was able to collect data for my master thesis in the Vakinankaratra region with great help of the AiNA soa team. It was a very exciting and new experience for me and all involved.

The early history of AiNA soa is a part of my story. I’ve known it for a longer time. If I do not carry out this project, I would deeply regret it. As an emergency nurse, by working abroad in different countries in Africa and a FH degree in social work I dared to realize the project and found an aid organization.

The years of development in Madagascar were instructive, productive, challenging and made me grow close to the country and its people. Back in Switzerland, my focus is on coaching the Malagasy team and managing the association’s work.

The vision of what AiNA soa should become has already taken shape. Malagasy people are empowered and continue to develop their country. Today they are the driving force of the change we want to see. Today AiNA soa is no longer just my story, but that of many people, because they are part of this valuable work. My deepest thanks go to all of them.

However, there was one, who gave courage, brought people together, showed solutions and opened doors – without him, I am convinced that AiNA soa would have remained a dream. Nihil sin Deo – nothing without God – AiNA soa is a testimony to this.

Even before my volunteer assignment in 2023, I was able to start raising awareness of AiNA soa on social media. During my time in Madagascar, I was inspired by the local team, and I’m very happy to continue supporting their work as a board member. My knowledge of French is a valuable asset for our collaboration.

Since autumn 2003 I am happily married with Heinz. After we had recently taken in several children and a young mother with a child as part of our family over a period of several years and I worked as a pastoral worker at the same time, I am now working in the social counselling department of a social enterprise.

I support AiNA soa because through their work the help starts with the people at the basis. Helping people to help themselves is effective and has a long lasting perspective. What is “natural” to know about health care in our culture is unfortunately (still) the exception in Madagascar. That is why it is valuable and important to pass on this “basic knowledge”: simple, understandable and practical to implement.

I have been able to follow and support the work of AiNA soa right from the start. My wife Anke has been on the board since the organisation was founded, and Nicole, the founder, is a friend of ours.

In 2024, I had the opportunity to get to know the work and the team at AiNA soa first-hand. I was impressed to see and experience the passion and dedication with which the staff in Madagascar deliver training and impart practical expertise in the field of healthcare. It made me realise just how valuable and important this knowledge is.

Professionally, I work in social work and also have a broad grounding in finance. I would like to serve on the board of AiNA soa because I am convinced by the organisation’s goals and values, and I want to play an active part in ensuring that the work in Madagascar can continue to have its full impact. It is particularly motivating for me to see that, through AiNA soa, many people are being reached with vital knowledge, which they then pass on and spread further.