History of the AAG

After five years of civil war, Mali is at peace. Gao, situated 1,200 km from the capital Bamako , has no functioning airport. The population of Gao, exhausted by years of rebellion and isolated from the remainder of the country by the Sahara in the north and the river Niger in the south, finds it difficult to restructure their society.

Sophie arrives for the first time in Gao. On her first trip to Mali she hopes to spend a week with the Tuaregs , sharing their itinerant life. During her visit, she notices how deprived the people from the north are, and how their world has been destroyed. In spite of I this, she discovers very friendly and welcomingpeople , full of generosity, respect and tolerance. Without any experience , but in the face of so much misery, she devotes her time to providing first aid for children, the elderly and other able-bodied people that she meets in the encampments. Adopted by everyone, she tries to relieve their sufferings with any available means. A smile or an affectionate word are as important as an aspirin or a dose of nivaquine.

After a week, Sophie leaves them in a difficult and precarious situation. She is deeply moved by what she has just experienced.Hoping to return, she decides to devote her time to helping them as much as possible by collecting medicines and materials, clothes and cash donations. Sophie moves mountains for the cause of the disadvantaged. Her trips become increasingly frequent

Sophie creates the Association d'Entraide Nord Gao (AENG) in France .

Expansion of AENG activities in Switzerland . In order to be more efficient, Sophie undergoes medical training, and especially in tropical medicine.

Sophie settles permanently in Gao. There is so much to do: medical care, hygiene, education. She worries mainly about the children's future. Many are orphaned and malnourished. With the funds collected in Europe , she introduces a nutritional programme .

There are real needs. A project for constructing an orphanage is considered, but the lack of financial resources means that Sophie must give it up temporarily. The lack of communication with the European structure obliges her to resign from the AENG. However, she continues her work with the financial assistance of her family and some friends.

In response to her determination to continue her action, some friends in Switzerland decide to support her. On 20 December 2004 they create the Association d'Aide à Gao (AAG), with the objectives of reviving the project to construct the orphanage, help the local authorities in their programme of cleaning up the streets, and continue supporting the orphans who are increasingly numerous.