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The association
We are a non-profit organisation (association 1901) based in France, with our head office in Vaucluse.
The association was established on 26 June 2002 in Marseille by Dr Grimaldi Ghislaine at the instigation of Sophie Rombaut, a medical professional specialising in tropical diseases who had been working in India since 1973.
The origin of our Association:
Sophie ROMBAUT
The origin of our association finds its inspiration in a continuation of the work carried out in the field by a medical professional from Marseille, Sophie Rombaut, who, overwhelmed by what she had seen during a touristic trip to India in 1972, decided to devote her life to the most destitute.
From 1973 to 2002, she founded 9 schools, 4 small dispensaries, latrines, water points and shelters in the slums of Delhi so that the homeless could take refuge there during the monsoons.
In 2002, she asked a friend, Dr Grimaldi Ghislaine, to help her set up a dispensary in Rishikesh to send severely weakened patients there for convalescence.
As a sign of respect, the local population called Sophie ‘Mateshwari Sophie’, which means ‘Mother’.
In 2003, Sophie Rombaut went missing in India.
The aim of our Association:
Ensuring year-round functioning of a dispensary in the town of Rishikesh, receiving over 25,000 patients per year
The dispensary is located in Uttarakhand, northern India
Ensuring “medical camp” services 4 times per week
These “camps” or care missions provide medical services in the nearby villages in the hills and slums around Rishikesh. An ambulance transports the medical team (doctors and nurses) and medications to the site. All treatments are provided free of charge.
Contributing to the food and medical expenses of the students at the SVM Education Centre
A school founded in 1995 by Sophie Rombaut in the slums of New Delhi.
The current management team consists of:
- The President, Ghislaine Grimaldi, doctor
- 3 Vice Presidents
Jérémie Rombaut
Marie Rombaut
Marie-hélène-Ducongé - A Treasurer, René Baroni
- A Secretary, Jacqueline Tassart
- And a Board of committed volunteers
Annual meeting (General Assembly) in 2019 in Venasque with the teams from Charente, Marseille, and Vaucluse: Yves Paugam, René Baroni, Genevieve Desescaut, Marie Rombaut, Jacqueline Tassart, Jérémie Rombaut, Brigitte Guyomarch, Ghislaine Grimaldi, and Marie-Hélène Ducongé.
Jeremie and Marie Rombaut, the children of Sophie Rombaut
Its registered office:
The registered office was in Marseille from 2002 to 2015.
In 2015, for convenience, the head office was moved to La Roque-sur-Pernes in the Vaucluse, at the home of the Association’s treasurer and secretary, Mr René Baroni and Ms Jacqueline Tassart.
We also operate a branch in Angoulême, in the Charente, at the residence of our Vice-President, Marie-Hélène Ducongé, supported by Brigitte and Patrick Guyomarch, along with Jacques Pescher, who manages the collection and transfer of accounts to the head office.
Its Funding:
The Association currently relies primarily on Individual Sponsors (membership-only or with regular sponsorship) and on one-off or regular Donors.
Furthermore, throughout the year, during Christmas and Mother’s Day in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, the Association organises “participation through handicrafts” with the sale of handcrafted items brought back from India (jewellery, scarves, tablecloths, etc.) among friends. All proceeds are donated to the Dispensary. Several events were also held in Angoulême, including concerts and theatrical performances. For many years, a team of volunteers (20 people) has been preparing gift packs at King Jouet, a toy shop, during the three months before Christmas, earning substantial tips.
Every quarter, the funds required to operate the Dispensary are transferred from a French bank to an Indian bank. This is made possible by obtaining the FCRA, a permission from the Indian Home Ministry granted to certain charitable organisations in India, renewed every five years.
*The FCRA (Foreign Contribution Registration Act) allows an Indian association to receive and manage donations from abroad.
We are currently supported by:
- Over 110 individual members in France, Réunion, the UK and in Switzerland
- An active team of volunteers in Angouleme (Charentes) who work around our Vice-President, Marie-Hélène Ducongé.
- Long-standing supporters in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of France.
Waiting room at the dispensary