Opportunities to Recognise Land Rights for Local and Global Benefits

Planting a hedge helps stake claim to your land.

Since 2002 legislation that recognises Indigenous People and local community land and forest rights has been enacted.  However,  momentum has slowed since 2008 according to a new report issued by the

Rights and Resources Initiative

The reality is that the land which Indigenous People and local communities traditionally claim is much larger than that which is currently legally recognised by governments.

Research has shown how recognition of land rights of Indigenous People and local communities delivers local and global benefits.  For example, support for community forest tenure promotes carbon capture and reduces threats of deforestation by extraction companies and loggers.

More decision-making control for Indigenous People could bring both local and global benefits. The preservation of biodiversity and carbon capture in Madagascar’s unique forests could bring long term benefits for all.

Money for Madagascar has worked with forest communities for over two decades. We are now exploring new ways to gain carbon credits for the work we do with tree-planting and water installations. More information about this will be featured on our blog as plans develop. 

E Grisenthwaite

Inspiring Malagasy Women

For more than 25 years Money for Madagascar has been dedicated to investing in Malagasy people who can be agents for change in their own communities. Training of leaders of national and regional Malagasy NGOs cascades down to benefit thousands of people at the community level. Investing in the education and training of destitute children and vulnerable teenagers has produced teachers, social workers, doctors and development agents with an exceptional commitment to helping their fellow citizens. MfM is always looking for new opportunities to help Malagasy people to help themselves. Below are the details of a new opportunity:

Malagasy women studying abroad may be eligible for financial support toward doctoral or post-doctoral studies in the fields of science, technology, engineering or mathematics. The Schlumberger Foundation is accepting new applications for the 2015–2016 Faculty for the Future Fellowships from September 10th to November 14th, 2014.

Candidates should prove their commitment to returning to their home countries to contribute to the economic, social and technological advancement of their regions, pursuing careers in the teaching and research faculties of their home institutions and also taking positions in the public sector.

http://www.facultyforthefuture.net/

Amazing Jane completes her challenge

Jane has every reason to be proud of her medal after completing her mile long challenge swim on Sunday 13^th July in Ullswater lake.

Jane says, “Thank you for your incredibly generous donations, helping to raise almost £600 for the children of Madagascar.  This is almost double my target and at such short notice! 

The sun shone and Jane swam a mile in 42 minutes which she is pretty ‘chuffed’ with.  She enjoyed every minute surrounded by the beauty of Cumbria thinking about how wonderful it will be for the children who will now have clean water in their own school yard. 

Donate here to show your appreciation for Jane’s brave efforts.

How will your money be used?  It’s going to bring clean water to a whole school and a well water supply to grow healthy vegetables and improve nutrition. 

We’re going to install a sink so the children will have somewhere to wash their hands providing easy access to clean water for the youngest child.

‘Jane’s swim will make a huge difference for children in Madagascar.

Every year children die from highly preventable diarrhoea but we’re putting an end to needless death by providing safe water. 

Thanks a million Jane, for helping us raise the money to protect young lives.’

(Irenee Development Officer for Money for Madagascar)

Wishing Well

It's a heavy job carrying water to school

On Sunday Jane will be swimming a mile across Lake Ullswater for Money for Madagascar because children are in dire need of access to clean water.

This time last year Jane’s QES folk band plucked their strings to raise money for a new classroom for children who risked drowning to get to school. This time Jane is plucking up her courage and donning her wet suit to help children who don’t have enough water. 

Jane says

“I'm wanting to make a 'splash' through my swimming and help fundraise for a well to be installed in a rural primary school in the highlands of Madagascar. This would improve the children's health in two ways. Firstly access to clean water is a vital step to reduce the tragic levels of sickness and diarrhea, which can be fatal. Secondly the water supply will be used to irrigate a small kitchen garden so the students can combat malnutrition by growing and eating fruit and vegetables.”

We need to grow food  but our crops need water

To help Jane bring water to a school that desperately needs it please donate via Jane’s JustGiving Page https://www.justgiving.com/J-Lawrence . Or you can donate via the MfM website http://moneyformadagascar.org/english/make-a-donation.asp

Bradt Backing

Intrepid explorer and author of the definitive guide to Madagascar, Hilary Bradt is also a dedicated Patron of the charity Money for Madagascar. Jumping out of a plane and running the London 10K are amongst the bold and fearless ways Hilary has helped us to fund education and training for vulnerable street kids in Antananarivo. 

Now Hilary and her co-author Daniel Austin are showing their solidarity with MfM by offering a special 40% discount to MfM supporters who wish to purchase the brand new Bradt Guide to Madagascar. Simply visit www.bradtguides.com and enter the discount code MFM40. This code will also get you a 40% discount on Madagascar Wildlife and Madagascar Highlights.

Enjoy! 

Happy Independence Day!

On this special day, the 26th of June, Money for Madagascar would like to take the opportunity to wish every Malagasy citizen hope, health and happiness. We wish you the courage and strength to make your beautiful country prosperous for all.

To all those who share our struggle to reduce poverty and raise dignity in Madagascar, we share our thanks. 

"Tratra ny Fahaleovantena"Madagasikara

Wessex Strings serve up Concerto & Cake

This Sunday residents of Sherborne (and beyond) are in for a treat. The Wessex Strings will be performing a benefit concert in support of Money for Madagascar. The line –up is exciting:

Their conductor is a Venezuelan cellist who has performed in many prestigious venues all over the world, including in the Royal Festival Hall in London. The programme includes a Mozart piano concerto.  The soloist, also originally from Venezuela, was a prize-winner at the Royal College of Music and in a number of international competitions.   She has also performed with the celebrated Simon Bolivar Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Tea with home-made cake is included in the ticket price and some wonderful crafts from Madagascar will be on sale.  This promises to be a wonderful evening in aid of a good cause. 

Do come if you are anywhere in the area!

Cooking up funds for Akany Avoko

Lancaster supporters of Akany Avoko are raising money by hosting ‘Pampered Chef’ cooking parties.

Earlier this year, Helen Speakman, from Lancaster, hosted a party with Helen Cullen-Williams, an independent consultant for Pampered Chef, and raised £120 for Akany Avoko.

Both Helens are members of Lancaster Millennium Choir, long-time supporters of both Akany Avoko children's home and Money for Madagascar. 

Choir members, together with friends and colleagues of Helen S, attended the live cookery demonstration, which encouraged people to get hands-on and take part in preparing recipes and trying out utensils. They could then buy the items on show, with a percentage of profits going towards Akany Avoko.

Mouth-watering Mediterranean Ring

Helen C-W said, “We are always trying to find different ways to raise a bit extra for Akany Avoko and thought what better way than getting people along to one of my shows. It’s such an easy way to raise money. It’s great fun and everyone gets involved, and of course there’s delicious food to sample at the end!”

Irenee Rajaona-Horne received the proceeds on behalf of Akany Avoko saying

 “This is wonderful. It will pay two teacher's wages for a month!”

Maggie in Madagascar

The next Pampered Chef fundraising night in aid of Akany Avoko is coming up soon at the end of May. It will be hosted in Lancaster by Maggie Bremner who has supported the children's home over many years through singing in the Millennium Choir and even volunteering at Akany Avoko in person. 

Many thanks to both Helens and Maggie for giving their time and homes and donning their hostess hats for us!

If you’d like to hold a Pampered Chef fundraising party, contact Helen Cullen-Williams at helencw@outlook.com or via her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cookwithhelencw.

Read more about the choir’s sterling efforts:

http://www.moneyformadagascar.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/unsung-heroes.html

Discover Madagascar and make a difference!

We are happy to offer you a unique opportunity to explore Madagascar and help to combat poverty at the same time.

Kris Pierscieniak, who provided the photos for our 2014 ‘Magnificent Madagascar’ calendar has just released a stunning, new, interactive ibook revealing hidden stories of THe Red Island entitled 

 ‘Madagascar: The Land Amidst Moving Waters’

Photographer & Author Kris Pierscieniak writes:

“I’ve been working on my Madagascar book these last few months. The need there is certainly very great. I’ve seen enough to realize the extent of the challenges the country faces. In all my travels, among all the many projects I’ve observed, all the countless people and organizations I’ve been introduced to, I have never seen more done with less. What Money for Madagascar accomplishes is truly remarkable, so I would like to help.”

So why not treat yourself or a friend to this wonderful experience! If you buy the ibook by the 15^th of June 2014 then the entire cover price will be donated to MfM to help provide education, sanitation and hope to forgotten communities across the island.

To view / purchase the ibook ‘Madagascar: The Land Amidst Moving Waters’ please follow the link www.kptravelogues.com/madagascar

  

"Vision without action is just a dream; action without vision just passes time; and vision with action can change the world!"   

Nelson Mandela