Team

I first joined AiNA Soa in 2014 as a first aid trainer — and honestly, even as a trained physician, first aid was a domain I barely knew. Group facilitation and adult training techniques were equally new to me. What changed everything was the trust the organization placed in me from the start. It pushed me to grow in ways I hadn’t expected, and somewhere along the way I discovered something I hadn’t known about myself: I love teaching. What began as stepping outside my comfort zone has become a genuine passion.

Over the years, that trust deepened. I took on the role of medical team leader, and eventually became National Coordinator — a title I hold today as a volunteer, not because it comes with a position, but because I believe in what we’re building together.

Leading a team as an introvert is its own quiet challenge. But it’s also one of the most meaningful things I’ve done. I think of Zig Ziglar’s words: “The cornerstones of a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, and loyalty.” These values mirror those of AiNA Soa almost exactly — and they’re a big part of why I keep showing up.

Of everything we’ve accomplished, the FAWAY project on Madagascar’s east coast stands out the most. Watching young people we trained as first aiders go on to train others themselves — that’s what “Empowering for Change” actually looks like in practice. That ripple effect is what drives me.

 My goal here is simple: to see my colleagues thrive, and to see these values take root in everything we do together.

My journey with AiNA Soa began in February 2013 — not with a contract, not with a salary, but with a calling.

I came in as a translator, helping bring the first aid training manual to life in Malagasy, and bridging languages during our events. Over the years, that role grew organically. I found myself drawn deeper into the organisation’s life — first through finance and planning, then into human resources. Not because I was assigned to, but because I wanted to contribute wherever I was needed most. That’s what being a volunteer means to me: you show up fully, in whatever form the mission requires.

What keeps me here, year after year, is simple: AiNA Soa’s values. This is a Christian NGO that genuinely serves the Malagasy people, and the very first value — faith in God — resonates with everything I am. Trusting Him in all things, respecting His guidance, and working as if He himself were watching over my shoulder. That’s not a work ethic. That’s a life ethic.

One of my most unforgettable memories as a volunteer was our mission to Anosibe An’Ala. I walked roughly 50 kilometres on foot — probably the most I’ve ever covered in my life. To reach the communities where we delivered first aid training, we used just about every mode of transport imaginable: bush taxi, truck, bicycle, motorbike, and even a walking tractor. It was exhausting, it was unpredictable, and it was absolutely worth it.

Outside of my volunteer life, I’m a true enthusiast of mechanical sports — motorbikes and cars are my passion. I love riding, driving, maintaining them. I also have a deep love for beautiful modern architecture (perhaps because I carry a quiet dream of building my own home someday). And above all, I love to travel — especially with my family, discovering new places, new cultures, and new flavours together.

I’m not an employee of AiNA Soa. I’m a volunteer — and that distinction matters to me deeply. I give my time and skills freely, because this mission is worth it.

I joined AiNA soa on 4 May 2014 — twelve years of commitment to an organization that has deeply shaped who I am today.

I started as a medical trainer, teaching first aid in the field. Over time, I grew into roles in medical team leadership, planning, volunteer and guest management, and today, Administrative Team Lead. This journey from practitioner to leader has helped me grow both professionally and personally.

Today, I support teams, coordinate planning, and help ensure smooth operations while serving as a communication bridge across the organization.

What first drew me to AiNA soa was its vision: empowering Malagasy people to take responsibility for their own development and contribute to a better country. It resonated deeply with my desire to help others and bring my own “anjara biriky”— small contribution — to something meaningful.

The value that speaks to me most is the pursuit of quality and social justice. It reflects my commitment to giving my best with integrity and being, in my own way, a blessing to others.

One of the experiences that impacted me most was working in remote communities in the Alaotra Mangoro region on 2015. Long journeys by taxi-brousse, motorbike, or bicycle to isolated villages revealed the beauty of my country, while also opening my eyes to the realities of limited access to healthcare and emergency services. These experiences strengthened my understanding of why our work matters.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.” — 1 Peter 4:10
That verse reflects the way I see my volunteer engagement here: using what I have to serve, support, and contribute something good to the lives of others

I joined AiNA Soa in 2020 as a volunteer — and I never quite imagined how much that decision would shape me.

What began as a commitment centered on first aid training has grown into something far richer. Today, I volunteer across multiple disciplines — first aid, fire prevention and firefighting, and trainer development — while also taking on a client-facing role, building relationships with new partners and helping the organization grow its reach.

Growth is something I think about constantly, both for myself and for AiNA Soa. I’m always looking for ways to do things better: sharper training tools, smoother processes, and new ways that technology — including artificial intelligence — can elevate what we offer. Innovation isn’t a buzzword for me; it’s a habit.

But what grounds all of it is something simpler: a genuine desire to be useful. There is real fulfillment in sharing knowledge that makes a difference — in the room with training participants, and behind the scenes with colleagues navigating their daily challenges. Volunteering here has never felt like a sacrifice. It feels like purpose.

One moment has stayed with me above all others. A participant reached out to thank me personally — because the first aid skills he had learned allowed him to save his child from choking. That single story carries more weight than any certification or milestone. On the harder days, it’s exactly the reminder I need.

Outside of my volunteer work, I’m a self-confessed technology enthusiast. I love diving into new software, applications, and platforms — figuring out how they work and imagining how they can simplify life through automation or creative problem-solving. In many ways, it’s the same curiosity that drives me at AiNA Soa, just pointed in a different direction.

Long before I had any official role, I was already there. Back in 2018, I showed up simply as a volunteer — no title, just a genuine desire to be part of something meaningful. By 2021, that quiet commitment had taken shape, and I became Secretary and Communications Officer within the organization— not as an employee, but as a volunteer who had finally found her place and her purpose.

Today, my days with AiNA Soa sit at the crossroads of people, information, and action. I coordinate logistics for training sessions, compile participant lists, draft meeting minutes, write our bi-annual donor newsletters, and manage our Facebook page. I’m a bit of a multi-tasker — I touch almost everything around the administration. And honestly? I love it.

But behind all of that, something deeper has always driven me: a desire to help others, freely, without expecting anything in return. That spirit is what first drew me to AiNA Soa, and what keeps me here. I especially love our former tagline — “Help to help” — because I truly believe the most powerful support is the kind that multiplies.

Thousands of people have now benefited from trainings I helped organize, and every message of thanks and personal testimonials that come in are a quiet reminder of why I do this.

Outside of AiNA Soa, I recharge in nature, exploring outdoors with my family. And on the harder days, I come back to a line that helped me stay the course:

“Every expert was once a beginner.” — Rutherford B. Hayes

I’m still learning. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I first joined AiNA Soa in June 2016 as the organisation’s fleet manager — responsible for the vehicles that keep our missions moving. That was nearly ten years ago, and looking back, I never imagined how much this commitment would shape who I am today.

What started with keys and kilometres gradually grew into something far richer : over time, I took on logistics, training material management, and data collection, evolving alongside the organisation as it grew.

No two days look the same for me, and I love that. Some mornings I’m at the desk handling administrative tasks; other times I’m out running errands or sourcing supplies. Most often, I’m behind the wheel, driving our team across Madagascar’s regions so that AiNA Soa can bring first aid knowledge to the communities that need it most. That variety is what keeps me energised.

I’ll be honest: a passion for vehicles is part of what drew me to AiNA Soa in the first place. But what has made me stay, year after year, is something deeper. It’s the spirit of the team — the warmth and trust shared among colleagues here in Madagascar, and the genuine connection with our board in Switzerland. It feels less like an organisation and more like a family bound by a common purpose. That purpose is captured in one of AiNA Soa’s core values: Serving God and Others. For me, it is not just an organisational principle — it is a personal commitment that pushes me to give a little more and to show up fully, every day.

The experience that stays with me most is reaching remote rural villages where people had never encountered first aid before — and watching their faces light up as they grasped knowledge that could one day save a life. That is why this work matters.

I have always been deeply inspired by Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life, and one idea from that book has stayed with me more than any other: “The value of a person lies in their capacity to give, not in their capacity to receive.” It is a thought that quietly shapes everything I do here.

Away from AiNA Soa, I stay active through football, basketball, and pétanque, and I enjoy picking up my guitar whenever I get the chance.

Volunteering with AiNA Soa has taught me that discovering what you love — and doing it in service of others — is one of the most fulfilling paths a person can take. Serving others is not just what I do at AiNA Soa. It’s who I choose to be.

I’ve been with AiNA Soa since December 2020 — and nearly five years in, the motivation hasn’t dimmed. If anything, it’s grown.

I came in as a doctor, but a novice trainer. AiNA Soa gave me the space to find my footing, and I’m deeply grateful for that. Over time, I’ve grown into leading sessions in first aid, fire safety, and trainer-of-trainers programs, and more recently into shaping the content itself — updating presentations and handbooks, adapting materials for different audiences, and exploring new topics as needs evolve. It’s a kind of creative responsibility I didn’t expect to love as much as I do.

Training has been a genuine passion for a long time, but the moment that makes it all tangible is watching the trainers I’ve helped shape go out and lead their own sessions in rural communities. That ripple effect — knowledge traveling further than I ever could alone — is the most meaningful proof that what we do here leaves a real mark.

What keeps me coming back, beyond the mission itself, are the bonds forged with fellow volunteers, the richness of field missions, and the constant discovery of regions and cultures I would never have encountered otherwise. Traveling and exploring new flavors are among my deepest personal passions — and AiNA Soa, quietly and reliably, feeds both.

I’ll be honest about something else too: getting here is no small feat. I cover nearly 80 km by motorbike every day — early mornings, late returns, and the occasional storm during rainy season. But I’ve come to see each ride as its own small adventure. That shift in perspective owes something to Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad — a book that reminded me that courage, measured risk, and seizing opportunities matter far more than comfort. So yes, I climb on that old motorbike willingly. Every single time.

I joined AiNA Soa in 2025 as a first aid trainer — and what started as a single commitment has quietly grown into something much deeper. Over the past year, I’ve also taken on creating medical content for our Facebook page, finding new ways to reach people who might one day need these skills. Every new experience teaches me something, and I’m still growing.

My time with AiNA Soa takes me across Madagascar. Some days, I’m in the field leading first aid training sessions in communities far from the capital. Other days, I’m crafting content for our online community, trying to make medical knowledge feel accessible and human. I love both sides of that life.

What drew me to AiNA Soa — and what keeps me committed — is its Christian identity. The organization’s values feel like my own, and the principle that speaks to me most is “Working with ownership and integrity.” It’s a quiet reminder to show up fully, every single time.

Some moments stay with you. A last-minute mission in Betafo stands out — we had very little preparation time, yet the participants arrived brimming with enthusiasm and hunger to learn. Their energy carried the whole session. And then there’s the story from Vangaindrano: a participant used the resuscitation techniques we taught to save someone’s life. When I heard that, I understood, in the most concrete way, why this matters.

Beyond my volunteering, I treasure quiet days at home — movies, animated films, a little stillness.

A verse from the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:23) anchors me: “Well done, good and faithful servant… Come and share your master’s happiness.” This message motivates me to always do my best, both at work and in my daily life. So that one day, I can stand before my Lord without regret.

I joined AiNA Soa in 2018 as a volunteer, and what started as a simple Saturday cleaning shift has grown into something I could never have imagined.

In those early days, my role was straightforward: I came in every Saturday to clean our premises. Over time, the team invited me to take on more — including cooking for the staff. Today, I’m the one who makes sure our office is always spotless and that the meals I prepare for everyone are as wholesome and nourishing as possible. It’s a quiet kind of work, but I believe deeply that a clean, welcoming space makes everything else possible.

What surprised me most, though, was the opportunity to grow beyond what I originally came to do. I was part of the team that had the privilege of attending a first aid trainer certification program delivered by Flying Instructor. Teaching has always been a personal passion of mine, and I love being able to bring that enthusiasm into our work — supporting our medical team during training sessions whenever I can. And even when I’m not in the room for a session, I know I’m still part of it: I’m the one responsible for cleaning and maintaining all of our training equipment, making sure everything is ready and in perfect condition for our instructors and participants.

There’s a particular kind of joy I feel when visitors leave our premises satisfied — when they notice the care that went into keeping the space clean and welcoming. That quiet moment of satisfaction means everything to me. And when our trainers return from the field, I’m genuinely happy for them and proud of what we’re building together.

I’m just as enthusiastic today as I was on my very first Saturday at AiNA Soa. I can’t imagine being anywhere else as long as I can be of help here. I love watching everyone around me grow and thrive — in their role and in their lives. And as a Christian, I find real strength in that: putting God first in everything I do makes every task, however small it might seem, feel meaningful.

I joined AiNA Soa in 2024 as a first aid trainer — and somewhere along the way, that first step opened doors I hadn’t anticipated. I’ve since grown into fire safety training and become a trainer of trainers, each new role adding a layer to who I am as both a physician and a human being.

My time with AiNA Soa naturally divides itself between two worlds I love equally. In the field, I lead training sessions for communities and organizations across Madagascar. Back at the office, I channel that same energy into developing new projects, refining our training tools, and deepening my own practice. It’s a rhythm that keeps me curious and grounded.

What pulls me toward this mission is beautifully straightforward: I want to do something that genuinely helps people, and to contribute — one training session at a time — to building a better Madagascar. Not all at once. Just steadily, meaningfully, forward.

The moments that stay with me longest are always the ones outside the capital. Traveling to different regions means more than covering distance — it means stepping into new landscapes, meeting communities with their own stories, and being challenged to adapt. Every population has different needs, and learning to read that, to adjust and respond, has made me a far better trainer than any classroom ever could.

Beyond my volunteering, I’m happiest when I’m on the move or surrounded by the people I love. I travel whenever I can, spend time with friends and family, lose myself in films, series, and anime, and find quiet joy in gaming and everything related to cars and motorcycles. A good book, when life slows down enough to allow it, is the perfect finishing touch.

I joined AiNA Soa in May 2026 as a volunteer — and I can honestly say it feels like a dream come true. I see this opportunity as a true blessing, and I believe I’ve found exactly where I’m meant to be. What makes it even more meaningful is that I get to serve alongside my wife, working together toward a shared vision.

As a volunteer, I focus mainly on the organization’s visual communication and take care of IT maintenance — contributing in the ways I do best.

My connection with AiNA Soa actually began before I officially joined the team. In 2025, I had the privilege of going through their trainer training program, and I was later invited to assist as a trainer at a session in Ambatondrazaka. That experience was the perfect combination of purpose and joy — and seeing the happiness on participants’ faces at the end of the training was what truly convinced me to commit more fully to this mission.

I’m also personally aligned with everything AiNA Soa stands for. Integrity especially resonates with me — I believe in giving my very best in everything I do, no matter how big or small.

Outside of volunteering, I’m passionate about photography, music, and dance. I also love watching creative content for inspiration — including the work of Sonny Court and Aotra.