“Mitia” means “love for each other” in the local Malgache language
In March 2018, MITIA was established as an association with the objective of continuing to provide support to the people of Madagascar
Activities were first started in 1997 by a group of friends who shared the same sense of duty and solidarity.
History of our association
From 1974 – 1982, my father lived in Madagascar because of his work. During that time my mother, myself and my brothers joined him in the summer months as well as during Christmas holidays.
We enjoyed living in the the middle of the bush with very little around us and only a few small villages. These are my wonderful childhood memories; playing freely in the local river with the local children.
In summer 1997, 15 years after leaving the country, my father who was then already retired, remembered (for no particular reason) a phrase he had read when he had stayed in a mission for several nights.This often happened to him when a new construction site was set up, and most often in a region without hotels. This phrase was “one day, the Lord will ask you, what did you do for your brother?”
From that moment on, he remembered the needs of people and their misery (when he had visited the country his focus was more on professional needs) and what the nuns of the local schools had really meant by saying the word “PROVIDENCE” (when he left a little money and medicine)
He began by making a small donation, and the following year, during a holiday in Madagascar with some friends, he had the chance to meet other missions and take part in long discussions with the nuns about educating street children and other projects…. Having had this wonderful experience, he continued he continued to share his sense of solidarity with other friends.
It is now 10 years ago since I also started to follow my father’s footsteps bringing in other friends from Brussels.
In 2018, we realised the importance of creating a registered non-profit making association and we have decided to use the name Mitia, which in Malagache means “love for each other”.
Signed Sandra
MITIA ODV promotes develops the values of solidarity and charity within the framework of “aid and support to people and/or communities (both secular and/or religious) of Madagascar – in particular in the sector of education/schooling and other related areas for young people, to form the basis and opportunities for their future”.
All association activities are carried out by members purely on a voluntary basis.
All financial support received is used entirely for project work in Madagascar.
MITIA ODV 