Who we are
About GRAOBÉ
Much more than a humanitarian organisation: a story of life, courage, loss and light found again.
Our story
A promise made to a mother
GRAOBÉ Association is much more than a humanitarian organisation. It is a story of life. A story of courage, of loss, of light found again.
A story born from the journey of Marie-Noëlle Graobé — orphaned in childhood, a single mother, who became an international model and a voice for those who are never heard.
After modelling for Yves Saint Laurent, Nivea, Sephora, Puma and All Saints and walking the runways of the greatest Fashion Weeks, including Paris Haute Couture, Marie-Noëlle chose to turn her visibility into an act of love. An act of repair. An act of transmission.
A daughter of Doukoula, she carries in her commitment the memory of her mother's pain — a widow, humiliated and abandoned. She founded GRAOBÉ to reach out to those who, like her once, walk in the shadows: isolated women, forgotten children, rural communities surviving far from sight.
We believe every life deserves to be protected, cared for and supported. We believe dignity is not a privilege, but a right.
Our mission
To go where no one goes, reach out to those society has forgotten, and restore dignity, safety and hope. We empower women and children through health, education and protection programs.
Our vision
Communities where no widow is rejected, every child goes to school and every woman has access to care. Ultimately: a GRAOBÉ Health & Dignity Center in Doukoula for lasting change.
What guides us
Our values
Dignity
Dignity is not a privilege, it is a right. Every person deserves to be seen, heard and respected.
Solidarity
No one should face vulnerability alone. We act with communities, not in their place.
Compassion
Listening before acting. “In Doukoula, we did not only heal bodies — we listened to souls.”
Justice
Protecting widows, orphans and women from rejection, injustice and violence.
Transparency
Every donation is tracked: consultation forms, statistics, technical and financial reports.
Hope
Where dignity is reborn, hope begins again. We build to last.
Where we work
Our areas of action
Cameroon
Far North: Doukoula, Kar-Hay, Tchatibali, Maroua. Health campaigns, back-to-school drives, support for widows.
South Africa
Cape Town: community outreach in Bonteheuwel, Beauty Give Back, support for women.
France
Paris: registered office, diaspora mobilisation, fundraising and partnerships.
Team
The people behind GRAOBÉ
A committed founder, health professionals and volunteers mobilised across three countries.
Marie-Noëlle Graobé
Founder & President
An international model who turned her visibility into an act of love for the most vulnerable.
Medical team
4 doctors, 8 nurses (2025)
Health professionals who volunteer during campaigns, working with the health districts.
GRAOBÉ volunteers
Cameroon · France · South Africa
Logistics, welcome, distribution, communication: the beating heart of every mission.
Legal status
Non-profit association under the French law of 1901, registered in France on 18 March 2025. Office: Rue Fernand Fourreau, 75012 Paris. SIREN number: pending.