1989
The FXB story began in 1986 with the tragic death of François-Xavier Bagnoud, a helicopter pilot specializing in rescue operations, who lost his life at the age of 24 during a mission in Mali. Three years later, buoyed by the support of her family and friends, Albina du Boisrouvray founded an organization in tribute to her only son, to which she would devote three quarters of her estate. FXB was born out of a desire to extend, through development actions, the values of rescue, generosity and compassion that inspired François-Xavier Bagnoud.
FXB's first action was to join forces with Médecins du Monde in "La Route des Droits de l'Enfant", a symbolic maritime journey linking Nantes to New York via the African coast and the West Indies. The aim of this initiative was to promote the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the UN. On arrival in New York, the young participants from all over the world were received by Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, then Secretary General of the United Nations, with whom they shared their thoughts and concerns. A declaration issued at the meeting called on governments to ratify and implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
1990
The FXB Center and the FXB Chair in Pediatric Community Care, Rutgers University (USA)) : Creation of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Chair in Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. The Chair was awarded to Professor James Oleske. That same year, Dr. Oleske and Mary Boland launched the FXB International HIV Training Program in Pediatrics (FXB-ITP), which has enabled doctors, nurses and social workers from all over the world to acquire specific skills in the care of young patients.
Creation of FXB Thailand: Creation of FXB Thailand and opening of two FXB emergency shelters in Bangkok, in partnership with CPCR and MSF, to take in girls who have escaped from brothels or been evacuated by the police. A third FXB home soon opened in Chiang Mai, followed by a fourth in Chiang Rai. A reintegration program enables them, after receiving care, to prepare for their return to their families, to be taken in by another institution on a long-term basis, or to undergo training with a view to economic autonomy. This program has since been taken over by a local NGO. At the same time, FXB is setting up HIV/AIDS prevention, education and human and children's rights awareness programs in Bangkok, Buriram province and, via a local radio station, in the mountainous regions where the Akha people live. Through these initiatives, FXB aims to respond to the deteriorating living conditions of people living with HIV/AIDS, and the increasing stigmatization and discrimination they suffer.
First mission to Uganda: First needs assessment mission to Uganda and establishment of a partnership with AMREF (African Medical and Research Foundation).
1991
Creation of FXB India: FXB India was created in 1991 (it became FXB India Suraksha in 2007), with the opening of the FXB Asha Sadan Day Care Center in Baïna, in the red-light district of South Goa. This facility takes in the children of prostitutes, providing them with a safe and caring environment. In Goa, FXB has also supported an orphanage for young boys in Margoa and an orphanage for young girls in Rivona.
Since its inception, FXB has provided essential assistance to tens of thousands of marginalized and destitute children, women and communities across India every year. Through its actions in protection, education, health, access to water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as economic strengthening, FXB tackles the multidimensional causes of poverty and social injustice. 13 VillageFXB economic and community development programs have also been set up in the states of Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh and the Territory of Pondicherry, enabling more than 7,000 adults and children to escape poverty in the long term. Between 2000 and 2010, FXB also ran extensive HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns in the 35 States and Territories of the Indian Union, raising awareness among several million people of the risks of transmitting the virus.
In April 1991, FXB launched "Les Rêves de François-Xavier " (François-Xavier's Dreams), an initiative aimed at fulfilling the dreams of children living in Switzerland who were suffering from serious illnesses or whose health had been severely affected by an accident. Its main aim was to offer these children a magical moment to help them cope better with illness and withstand the often trying treatments. In almost 30 years, 200 children have seen their dreams come true. Over time, numerous associations with the same objective have emerged in Switzerland. This development has led FXB to terminate the project, as its involvement is no longer necessary.
Donation to AMREF: Donation of two Cessna aircraft to the African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF) to be used for emergency evacuations and vaccination campaigns in remote areas of war-torn Kenya and Somalia.
Creation of FXB USA: Opening of the first FXB House in the United States, in Washington D.C., for children orphaned, HIV-positive or suffering from AIDS. FXB Homes, later expanded to Thailand, Colombia and Brazil, offer much more than medical care: they are based on the concept of Tender Loving Care - the belief that these children will have a better, longer life if they grow up in a loving, caring family environment. From babies to teenagers, most of these children are orphans or abandoned, and can't count on the support and love of their parents. The team that accompanies them has all the medical and human skills necessary for their well-being. The FXB House thus becomes their family and the setting for their children's lives. The opening of these Houses also represents a strong stance in the fight against the stigmatization and discrimination to which these children are subjected. It also represents an essential alternative for their access to palliative care. At the time, there was no effective treatment available for HIV-infected people, not even AZT. As soon as antiretrovirals became available in the region, FXB followed its usual strategy of handing over management of the project to a local NGO, so that it could devote itself to other development initiatives and the reduction of extreme poverty.
FXB Uganda founded : Launch of a first assistance program aimed at biological or extended families in the community who were taking in orphans. The aim was to give them the means to meet their basic needs, in order to raise, protect and offer a dignified future to these children. Each family received capital in kind to start up an income-generating activity, and benefited from support in terms of nutrition and schooling for their children. This program marked the first steps in our poverty reduction model: the VillageFXB economic and community development programs. Since its launch in Uganda in 1991, 211 VillageFXB programs have been implemented in 12 countries, enabling more than 120,000 people to escape extreme poverty and achieve economic and social autonomy.
1992
Thailand: Opening of 4 FXB Houses for children orphaned, HIV-positive or suffering from AIDS in Chiang Mai province, Thailand.FXB handed over the project to the Thai NGO "Support Children Foundation".
Creation of FXB Uruguay: FXB opens Casa FXB in Montevideo, an educational center for street children and vulnerable teenagers. Its aim is to provide them with the tools they need to face the challenges of poverty and help them develop a sustainable life project. Following a lengthy campaign led by Albina du Boisrouvray, many of the families of the young people welcomed at Casa FXB were able to gain access to decent housing. FXB then launched agricultural activities to improve their quality of life, both economically and in terms of access to adequate food. In addition, FXB worked with UNICEF to integrate a new budget line into the national budget, guaranteeing financial support for families caring for orphans. FXB handed this program over to a local NGO to ensure its sustainability.
Publication on HIV/AIDS: Publication of "AIDS in the World I" by the Global AIDS Policy Coalition (GAPC) in partnership with the FXB Foundation.
FXB House in Kenya: Opening of the FXB House, on the outskirts of Nairobi, for children orphaned, HIV-positive or suffering from AIDS. FXB handed over the project to a local organization.
Summer camp in Crans-Montana for children affected by the Chernobyl disaster: FXB organized a summer camp in Crans-Montana, in the Swiss canton of Valais, for 30 children suffering from leukemia or cancer as a result of the Chernobyl disaster. Two years later, a kindergarten in Minsk was fully equipped to provide a suitable environment for young children affected by the consequences of the disaster. To finance this initiative, FXB organized a soccer match in Sion, bringing together former international and Swiss soccer stars.
Rescue and reintegration of young women exploited on the Thai-Burmese border: In July 1992, FXB received a call for help from young women exploited on the Thai-Burmese border. Subjected to veritable sexual slavery, they were beaten, malnourished and exposed to an extremely high risk of contamination by HIV/AIDS. Faced with this alarming situation, Albina du Boisrouvray alerted Saisuree Chutikul, advisor to the Thai Prime Minister, specializing in the status of women and the fight against child prostitution. Following this intervention, the police carried out a raid and freed 153 women and girls, including 95 Burmese, aged between 14 and 20. Of these, 50% were HIV-positive. A few months later, they were repatriated to their country of origin. In September 1993, FXB set up a professional and social reintegration program in Burma, offering these young women personalized support, adapted to their aspirations and aptitudes, to enable them to rebuild their lives.
Creation of FXB Colombia: Opening of La Maison FXB in Barranquilla for children orphaned, HIV-positive or suffering from AIDS.
Creation of the Centre FXB de soins palliatifs à domicile, in Sion, Switzerland: Born of Albina du Boisrouvray's desire to offer people at the end of life the possibility of dying at home, FXB founded the Centre François-Xavier Bagnoud de soins palliatifs à domicile (CFXB) in Sion. This structure provided dedicated care and support for terminally ill people, when curative medicine could no longer act. The CFXB offered home palliative care to anyone living in the central Valais region, providing comprehensive care that combined nursing care, psychological support and logistical assistance, both for the patient and his or her family. The center also ran bereavement groups throughout the year. In all, 800 people and their families were supported by the CFXB team, which ceased operations for good on January 1, 2010. Its expertise, forged over 18 years of commitment, has been fully integrated into the Pôle de compétences en médecine et soins palliatifs of the Réseau Santé Valais, thus guaranteeing the continuity of its know-how and humanistic approach.
1993 (under construction)