omena movement

Who We Are

We’re building a world where emotional health is understood, valued, and protected. 

HOW IT STARTED

A Personal Mission.
A Global Movement.

In 2019, Francesca Raoelison, a Malagasy social entrepreneur and survivor, founded Omena after sharing her experience with emotional abuse and realizing how many people carried similar stories in silence.

What began as one story quickly became a movement, empowering young people to break cycles of trauma through healing, emotional awareness, and social-emotional learning.

We focus on

PREVENTION

We make it

REPLICABLE

We are

SURVIVOR-LED

Our Journey

  • Founder’s video went viral in Madagascar and 13 other countries, sparking the creation of the organization.
  • Awarded the Royce Fellowship by Brown University to initiate our research and pilot programs.
  • Winner of the Davis Project for Peace, which enabled us to launch our first training.
  • Named one of Rhode Island Inno’s “25 Under 25”.

2019

2019

2020

2020

  • Shifted our trainings and support groups online during lockdown, with one of our videos going viral and significantly broadening our reach, particularly among young survivors and victims.
  • Bay Area Global Health Challenge Runner-up Winner, Stanford University
  • Earned global recognition as a Venture Prize Finalist with MassChallenge.
  • Featured in the Rhode Island Innovation Business Journal.

2021

2021

2022

2022

  • Recognized by UNICEF and USAID for impactful initiatives.
  • Secured Projects for Peace and Seed grants, enabling expansion of our educator training and SEL programs .

As we grew, building a strong foundation was critical.

  • Awarded the Echoing Green Fellowship.
  • Reached over 1,000 participants through awareness sessions.
  • Partnered with five new schools to implement SEL programs.
  • Launched our first Mental Health Day campaign.

2023

2023

2024

2024

  • Winner of the IF Social Impact Prize.
  • Received the Emerging Leader Award from Leadership Rhode Island.
  • Introduced programs for parents and initiated new projects.
  • Expanded our programs in two new regions of Madagascar
  • Recognized by FHI360 and Madagascar’s Ministry of Health for SEL leadership.
  • Expanded Omena’s programs to 4 regions across Madagascar.
  • Began adapting and piloting Omena’s prevention model in Rhode Island, USA.
  • Recruited and trained 12 Global Ambassadors across 12 countries.
  • Expanded global awareness through partnerships and campaigns.

2025

2025

WHERE WE WORK

Local Roots.
Global Reach.

From Madagascar to communities around the world, we're creating safe spaces and driving changs.

Omena Team

US Team

Francesca Raoelison
Francesca Raoelison

Founder & Executive Director
Sociology and Psychology
Brown University

sirulnick (1)
Ira Sirulnick

Program Associate,
Cognitive Neuroscience and Public Health,
Brown University

cerna (1)
Samantha Cerna

Program Associate, Economics and Public Health Brown University

essner
Callie Essner

Program coordinator, Business Administration, Utah University

HeadShot (1)
Subham Kumar Das

Software Engineer,
Brown University

IMG20240301142901-1-scaled-e1758153864997
Nilay Laddha

Software Engineer,
Brown University

Madagascar Team

Rajaonarisoa Herminot
Rajaonarisoa Herminot

Operations Manager

CLARA LANTONISAINANA
Clara Lantonisainana

Partnership Coordinator

Ray Ramparany
Ray Ramparany

Events Coordinator

nekena
Ravoninjatovo Tsanta Nekena

Program Coordinator,
Community of Practice

Salohinilisy
Salohinilisy Vololomboahangy

Social Emotional Learning Coordinator

Aurelio-removebg-preview
Aurelio Ramarosandratana

Awareness Program Coordinator

RANJALAHY CEDRIC
Ranjalahy Cedric

Financial Budget Analyst

Mikaela Rahajarijaona
Mikaela Rahajarijaona

Volunteer Manager

ANTSA NY RIANA RAJAONAH
Antsa Ny Riana Rajaonah

Principal Analyst – Statistician Economist Engineer

Ny Antsa Rotsy
Ny Antsa Rotsy (Hanitr'aina) R.

Digital Marketing Coordinator

Board Members

Francesca Raoelison
Francesca Raoelison

Founder & Executive Director

LAURA PETERSON_BOARD
Laura Peterson

Save the children, Managing Director

Chantal Raholimalala_BOARD
Chantal Raholimalala

World vision, Financial analyst

Board of Advisors

Dr Katie Rosanbalm_ADVISOR
Dr. Katie Rosanbalm

Ph.D. Psychology Child specialisation at Duke University

Jean Bosco_ADVISOR
Jean Bosco Niyonzima

Save the children international school for international training

Elizabeth McLeod_ADVISOR
Elizabeth Mcleod

Co-Founder, SEL institute Harvard school of education

Alan Harlam_ADVISOR
Alan Harlam

Social Entrepreneurship Professor at Brown University

David Sul_ADVISOR
David Sul

Psychometrician Sul & Associates international

Jim Seymour_ADVISOR
Jim Seymour

Impact investing MBA Harvard

Jaya-Sarkar_ADVISOR
Jaya Sarkar

Inclusion and human rights Specialist School for international training

Jessica Reveri_ADVISOR
Jessica Reveri

Yale University

Abigail Kohler_ADVISOR
Abigail Kohler

Brown University

https://www.omenamovement.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Natalie-Rodriguez_ADVISOR.jpeg
Natalie Rodriguez Jansorn

Yale University

Deb MIlls Scofield_ADVISOR
Deb Mills-Scofield

Brown University

Bill Sumerlin_ADVISOR
Bill Sumerlin

Stanford University

Global Ambassador Network

Irintsoa Flag of Malaysia
Irintsoa
Rakotomamonjy
Hiranshi Flag of India
Hiranshi
Mistry
Ibrahim Flag of Sierra Leone
Ibrahim
 
Takunda Flag of Zimbabwe
Takunda
Clement Chanetsa
Susmita Flag of Nepal
Susmita
Adhikari (Yadav)
Muhammad Flag of Pakistan
Muhammad
Ishfaq
Jesca Flag of Tanzania
Jesca
Beatus
Jit Flag of Malaysia
Jit
Soon Aw
Job Flag of Kenya
Job
Marvin Muluhya
Excel Flag of Nigeria
Excel
Adisa
Ashley Flag of South Korea
Ashley
Park
Collins Flag of Kenya
Collins
Makumba
From our
early days...
Providence, RI, USA - 02906