Beaumont Students Reach out to Madagascar

Beaumont College is a further education college in Lancaster which helps disabled young people aged between 18-25 years. Supported by the charity Scope, Beaumont helps young people to take responsibility for their own lives by providing personalised learning programmes to meet each students need.

Money for Madagascar (MfM) is grateful to Beaumont College Student Union as it has helped to raise money for a disabled child called Ando* at Akany Avoko Faravohitra Centre in Madagascar. Their donation for Ando is helping to pay for her vital physiotherapy sessions. 

We are sharing Ando's story with you.

Ando

Ando was born on 30th October 2012. She is an only child and she is disabled. She is epileptic and often has fits. She cannot stand or talk. Her parents separated just after she was born. First Ando lived with her mother. Then she moved to live with her father. But when her father remarried, Ando’s mother was not happy and wanted Ando to move back with her. The parents argued over custody and in the end the children’s court decided that Ando should be placed in the care of the children’s centre ‘Akany Avoko Faravohitra’ (AFF). Ando’s parents can still visit her and are starting to take her home with them some of the time. But the AFF centre is still responsible for her care, including taking her for regular visits to the hospital and for physiotherapy. Ando needs a lot of care and support. Someone always needs to be with her to look after her. She is loved by all the children and staff.

Shaun from Beaumont College handing over cheque to Sunita

It means so much to AAF and MfM that Ando has received support from Beaumont college and we hope that this link will continue to grow. In the photo above Shaun from the Student Union at Beaumont college is presenting Sunita from MfM with a cheque for MfM.

Thank you to all the students and staff at Beaumont College for your support!

* Name has been changed to protect identity.

RAINFOREST APPEAL

PRISCA'S FAMILY HAS TO DESTROY THE RAINFOREST IN ORDER TO SURVIVE!

WILL YOU GIVE THEM AN ALTERNATIVE?

Living on the rainforest margins, Prisca's family struggle to find enough land to grow the food they need. Increasing population pressure and land degradation are forcing them to clear the forest and hunt wildlife, such as lemurs, in order to survive. It's hard to consider the consequences of destroying the rainforest when the survival of your family is at stake!

With your help we can change Prisca's life and protect Madagascar's precious rainforests. Our partners can offer Prisca's family the chance to support themselves without destroying the unique environment that surrounds them. For as little as £10 per month, they can provide her family with the training and resources to sustainably grow rice, vegetables and fruit trees, as well as farming fish or keeping livestock.

Will you DONATE NOW so that Prisca and her family can have of a better life without destroying the rainforest?

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?

Biologically, Madagascar is one of the richest places on earth. It is home to more than 175,000 endemic plant and animal species including 50 kinds of lemur and plants with cancer curing properties. Economically, Madagascar is one of the poorest places on earth. Daily survival is a struggle for most of the rural population. Widespread malnutrition results in stunting amongst 50% of Malagasy children. This extreme rural poverty is threatening the future of Madagascar's forests and wildlife.  The World Wildlife Fund estimate that 90% of Madagascar's forest cover has already been lost. Continued destruction is threatening thousands of species with extinction.

We believe that it is only possible to conserve Madagascar's precious rainforest by offering the local people practical alternatives to deforestation. That is why for the last 25 years we have been working with communities on the margins of the Betampona rainforest reserve, helping families like Prisca's to diversify their livelihoods and to develop sustainable agricultural practices. Our aim is to both alleviate poverty and conserve the precious rainforest. 

Our long term approach to poverty alleviation is proving effective in the fight to save the forests. Around Betampona, we have seen many family incomes double. These families can now eat better, afford to send their children to school and visit the doctor when they are sick. Deforestation and poaching have decreased.

To ensure the future of the forests we need to be able to reach more families, giving them the chance to improve their lives sustainably. We can only do this with the help of generous supporters like you.

Will you DONATE to give more families the chance to raise themselves out of poverty without destroying the forest?

Any donation big or small will make a difference. However, committing to a monthly donation would really help us to plan for the years to come and to target our work most effectively.

£10 a month could provide one family with the technical support and materials they need to sustainably increase their rice production and grow vegetables and fruit trees.

£15 a month could set up a family in fish farming or small scale livestock keeping. 

£20 a month could set up and maintain a community reforestation nursery.

£30 a month could employ an agricultural outreach worker to provide training and technical support in sustainable food production to families and communities.

£50 a month could help establish and maintain irrigation systems for a community.  

To help families like Prisca's follow the link below:

Help protect forests and livelihoods in Madagascar 

THANK YOU!

RAINFOREST APPEAL

PRISCA'S FAMILY HAS TO DESTROY THE RAINFOREST IN ORDER TO SURVIVE!

WILL YOU GIVE THEM AN ALTERNATIVE?

Living on the rainforest margins, Prisca's family struggle to find enough land to grow the food they need. Increasing population pressure and land degradation are forcing them to clear the forest and hunt wildlife, such as lemurs, in order to survive. It's hard to consider the consequences of destroying the rainforest when the survival of your family is at stake!

With your help we can change Prisca's life and protect Madagascar's precious rainforests. Our partners can offer Prisca's family the chance to support themselves without destroying the unique environment that surrounds them. For as little as £10 per month, they can provide her family with the training and resources to sustainably grow rice, vegetables and fruit trees, as well as farming fish or keeping livestock.

Will you DONATE NOW so that Prisca and her family can have of a better life without destroying the rainforest?

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?

Biologically, Madagascar is one of the richest places on earth. It is home to more than 175,000 endemic plant and animal species including 50 kinds of lemur and plants with cancer curing properties. Economically, Madagascar is one of the poorest places on earth. Daily survival is a struggle for most of the rural population. Widespread malnutrition results in stunting amongst 50% of Malagasy children. This extreme rural poverty is threatening the future of Madagascar's forests and wildlife.  The World Wildlife Fund estimate that 90% of Madagascar's forest cover has already been lost. Continued destruction is threatening thousands of species with extinction.

We believe that it is only possible to conserve Madagascar's precious rainforest by offering the local people practical alternatives to deforestation. That is why for the last 25 years we have been working with communities on the margins of the Betampona rainforest reserve, helping families like Prisca's to diversify their livelihoods and to develop sustainable agricultural practices. Our aim is to both alleviate poverty and conserve the precious rainforest. 

Our long term approach to poverty alleviation is proving effective in the fight to save the forests. Around Betampona, we have seen many family incomes double. These families can now eat better, afford to send their children to school and visit the doctor when they are sick. Deforestation and poaching have decreased.

To ensure the future of the forests we need to be able to reach more families, giving them the chance to improve their lives sustainably. We can only do this with the help of generous supporters like you.

Will you DONATE to give more families the chance to raise themselves out of poverty without destroying the forest?

Any donation big or small will make a difference. However, committing to a monthly donation would really help us to plan for the years to come and to target our work most effectively.

£10 a month could provide one family with the technical support and materials they need to sustainably increase their rice production and grow vegetables and fruit trees.

£15 a month could set up a family in fish farming or small scale livestock keeping. 

£20 a month could set up and maintain a community reforestation nursery.

£30 a month could employ an agricultural outreach worker to provide training and technical support in sustainable food production to families and communities.

£50 a month could help establish and maintain irrigation systems for a community.  

To help families like Prisca's follow the link below:

Help protect forests and livelihoods in Madagascar 

THANK YOU!

Thanking Our Volunteers!

Volunteers and Staff at the Merchants Pub

On the 18th of June, we had a volunteer get-together in Lancaster. It was a small way of expressing our thanks to volunteers who contribute their time and skills to MfM, and also a chance for them to meet up with each other.

Not all our volunteers could make it but those who could had a choice of two events to attend. One related to a concert put up by Lancaster Millennium Choir, a faithful supporter of Akany Avoko. The concert was for an hour and it showcased their latest piece - Charlie the Cello. Some of our volunteers attended this event and were also able to sell some Malagasy crafts and greeting cards to raise money for our partners in Madagascar. Others joined us at the pub, and you can see from the picture above that we were enjoying some lovely summer sunshine. We want to say a special thank you to our volunteers for all their hard work and commitment!

Ash Rofe receiving certificate

Earlier on this month, one of our volunteers Ash Rofe received a certificate from the Mayor of Lancaster at the annual Volunteer Awards which are hosted by the Lancaster chapter of CVS (Council for Voluntary Services). He was nominated in the category for Young Volunteer of the Year. Ash has been an intern with us since October 2015 and he is returning to complete his undergraduate studies at Lancaster University. Ash has come in to our office once a week every Friday and contributed his skills and knowledge to help us with a variety of office tasks. We thank him for his time and efforts and wish him all the very best as he enters his final year of undergraduate studies.

We would also like to thank Alice Tooms our fundraising intern from Lancaster University who has completed her undergraduate studies and is moving on to new pastures. We do hope that both Alice and Ash will continue to be in touch with us and will spread the word about the work that our partners do in Madagascar!

Energy in Madagascar – A Country Facing a New Dawn?

Madagascar, as with many African countries, has long faced difficult decisions over which energy resources to use. This is not helped by the pressure on individuals and communities living in relative poverty and the pressure on a worldwide stage for countries to embrace renewable energies. Recently in Madagascar though, the response seems to be going well!

So what is this ‘response'?  A memorandum presented by Fluidic Energy (a company offering energy storage in Africa, Asia and the Americas) proposes using renewable, battery-based energy for over 100 (often remote) communities through the introduction of mini grid power systems (1). In many of these remote communities getting any energy is a positive but now there is the opportunity for clean, reliable and renewable power in one of the largest energy projects in the continent.

Fluidic energy and their partners will manage the energy storage for around 400,000 people, mostly using solar energy – already introduced in Madagascar. This builds on another energy positive – last month, 65 million$ was granted to try and enhance Madagascar’s struggling energy sector and build a promising link between World Bank and Madagascar (2).

This makes Madagascar the third country, after Zambia and Senegal, to join the ‘Scaling Solar’ program and it is hoped that this will ease the daily interruption of power. “A reliable supply of electricity will support growth in Madagascar's economy, and improve lives for individuals, families, and businesses,” said Oumar Seydi, IFC Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. “’Scaling Solar’ is an innovative World Bank Group initiative that reflects a commitment to supporting developing while protecting the environment” (3). Of course only time will tell how successful this scheme will be, but for Madagascar this seems to be a positive move – a step into the sun!

Energy in Madagascar has made the news in other ways too – by highlighting the problem of Global warming. Recently ‘Earth Hour’ took place – a global movement involving turning off all lights for the hour and managing without electricity. On Saturday19^th March in Madagascar, thousands of people took to rallies including parades, exhibitions and school events… even a candle-lit dance class! All bringing the country together and putting pressure on leaders to react to Global Warming – Madagascar wasn’t to be left out! (4) 

MoneyForMadagascar has already played a part in helping the people of Madagascar to find new, sustainable and reliable energy sources, for instance by supporting partners that provide solar power to 34 rural primary schools in the Education For Life programme. 

To find out more about what we do in Madagascar and to see how you can play a part in Madagascar's new solar solutions, please visit https://www.moneyformadagascar.org. 
If you would like to make a donation to support our work, please click here. Thank you.

By Matthew Ward

References:

1.  Energy Business Review 04/04/2016 http://utilitiesretail.energy-business-review.com/news/fluidic-energy-signs-mou-with-madagascar-to-provide-energy-storage-systems-to-100-communities-in-africa-4855196  
2. Priyanka Shrestha, Energy Live News 24/03/2016, http://www.energylivenews.com/2016/03/24/65m-support-for-madagascars-power-sector/ 
3. Sarah Owermohle, CPI Financial 28/03/2016,  http://www.cpifinancial.net/news/post/35268/ifc-supports-solar-energy-in-madagascar
4.  WWF, www.wwf.com,  19/3/2016 http://www.wwf.mg/?263870/Earth-Hour-2016-in-Madagascar-Shines-a-Light-on-Climate-Leaders

Top Award for Irenée!

Here at Money for Madagascar, we would like to congratulate our very own Director, Irenée Rajaona-Horne for the recognition she has received in Madagascar in relation to her work in the country. Irenee has been awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre National – an award for outstanding contribution which is presented by the Government of Madagascar.

The ceremony celebrating Irenee’s tireless efforts over the years – efforts that have only grown since her relationship with Madagascar began in 1996 as a Quaker volunteer at Akany Avoko’s Children’s Centre, was held on the 13^th May 2016 at one of the schools that benefits from MfM and Adsum’s Ed4Life programme.

The day consisted of spending the morning with the staff that work at the school and the children that attend the school, along with their parents. Irenee, along with people attending the ceremony, learnt all about how far the programme had progressed since its introduction and reiterated the importance of MfM’s work in Madagascar.

Guests and dignitaries, which included MfM’s Malagasy partners, colleagues and Akany Avoko graduates who worked with Irenee for 10 years in Ambohidratritimo before she moved to the UK, arrived at 12pm, with the knighthood being awarded at 12.30pm. Also in attendance was Chris Sewell who was representing MfM’s trustees. Following on from this, all who had gathered shared a meal together.

To find out more about Irenee’s work in Madagascar and get involved, please visit www.moneyformadagscar.org – who knows, one day you could be receiving the Chevalier de l’Ordre National yourself!

To make a donation, please click here. Thank you for your support.

Irenee to be awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre National Malagasy!

We are happy to share some exciting news with you all. Tomorrow, Friday 13th of May, the director of MfM – Irenee Rajaona-Horne - will be awarded the ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre National’ (a knighthood) from the Government of Madagascar in recognition of her services to the children of Madagascar.

The ceremony will take place in Madagascar at one of 34 schools taking part in MfM's Education for life programme. It will involve a guard of honour and will be attended by all the local dignitaries. We will be publishing more details on the event in the next fortnight.

For the past 20 years Irenee has worked tirelessly to help improve the lives of vulnerable and destitute children in Madagascar.

During her 10 years as a Quaker Volunteer at Akany Avoko Children’s Centre (1998-2008), Irenee worked directly with destitute children as well as helping to raise vital funds to enable the centre to continue its work. The attached photo shows Irenee with two women whom Irenee taught many years ago as teenagers. "It is a delight to see the children, who were once destitute,  grow up into caring parents who are able to provide a home and an education for their children." (said Irenee)

Since her return to Lancaster in 2008, Irenee has worked for Money for Madagascar, initially as the Development Officer and now as the Director. In this time MfM has had the privilege to support over 10,000 Malagasy people to fight against poverty and improve the environment.

Irenee would like to thank all the Malagasy partners who have made this work possible.  Likewise we would not have been able to make such a positive difference without the help of supporters like you. So thank you for your encouragement, interest and contributions!

To find out more about what we do in Madagascar and to see how you can get involved visit https://www.moneyformadagascar.org. To make a donation to support our partners who are trying to protect forests and livelihoods in Madagascar, please visit
http://moneyformadagascar.org/english/make-a-donation.asp

An Inspiring Visit!

Debby Hamilton, a long-term supporter of MfM from Scotland recently wrote to us to inform us of her trip to Madagascar. She got to witness firsthand how her donations were helping the children of Madagascar. We share with you her experience below…

“Upon our arrival to Madagascar, our guide arrived in a taxi and we were whisked off to the Street Kids centre. On our way to the centre, we travelled through the city of Antananarivo - a city spread out, with buildings of old and new, which sat side by side with rice paddies and railway lines.

We were given the warmest of welcomes upon our arrival at the centre and found that we had chosen the day when the dentist was in residence. We met a nervous little boy who was about to undergo an operation for a misplaced tooth, and the primary class were receiving lessons on brushing their teeth.  As we climbed the stairs, the students got older. We met a class of young ladies learning French, and then a class of young women working on a recipe for pizza.

The nursery class we met couldn’t have been more excited at our visit - we were met with songs and clapping from even the shyest.  They were such a happy bunch of little ones and their enthusiasm was wonderful to witness.

We have supported this charity for over 25 years, so it was a pleasure to see what is going on.  There was a happy, positive atmosphere throughout and a ‘can do’ feeling, which pervaded the whole building, which was clean, bright and welcoming.

At the top of the stairs is an open plan area for the slightly older women who participate in the activities which the Little Sisters of the Poor help to provide.  It is a safe place to explore income-finding activities like embroidery, sewing and cooking.

There are many other projects ongoing through this charity; work with tree nurseries in the countryside, which is of the utmost importance, since we were very aware of the deforestation throughout Madagascar.  There is also a project with water, which is such an issue in Southern Africa at the moment.

I am proud to have supported such a project for many years, and having seen the work that is being carried out, I shall certainly continue with my support for as long as I can!

May they continue well!”

Debby Hamilton

Scotland

If you would like to know more about MfM’s work, please visit our website www.moneyformadagascar.org

Any donation can make a BIG difference, to make a donation please click here

Thanks for your support