The bravest and most
remarkable heroes of our work in Madagascar are the children who grasp hold of
life and turn destitution into success. Like these students from the Akany
Avoko primary school who have defied destitution and passed their Primary
School Certificate exam this month. Their strength, ingenuity, determination
and joy is inspiring. (All eleven students passed but only 5 are captured on
photo.)
But in order to help such
courageous people MfM needs another ingredient – money. You might think this is
the dull and boring bit of the story. On the contrary! Let me take you behind
the scenes to meet some of MfM’s unsung heroes, who show us that there can be
joy and ingenuity in the raising of the money too.
The turn of the Millennium
was a time of change and new hope. Least Developed nations like Madagascar
prayed that campaigns like Jubilee 2000 might free them from the stranglehold
of crippling debt. Meanwhile in Lancaster, UK composer Andy Whitfield gathered
a merry band of singers to form the Lancaster Millenium Choir. But it wasn’t until 2004
that this Choir would become part of the Malagasy struggle against poverty.
As part of a teacher
exchange between Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School and Akany Avoko Children’s
Home Andy was invited to spend two weeks sharing songs with the delightful
children of Akany Avoko. As Andy learned about the tragic stories behind the
joyful faces of these children he was deeply moved. On return to the UK he
composed the cantata ‘For Every Child’, based on the International Convention
of Children’s Rights interwoven with quotes from the children at Akany Avoko.
Joining forces with primary
schools and music ensembles the Millenium Choir
raised
their voices to perform ‘For Every Child’ for the children of Akany Avoko. Soon
concert halls, schools and churches across the North of England could be heard
singing out for children’s rights and raising money to help restore them.
After 3 years of singing for the children of
Akany Avoko Millenium Chorister Maggie Bremner decided to pack a bag and join
them as a volunteer. A few months of cuddles, snotty noses and teaching
toddlers to walk was enough to fuel Maggie and the choir to keep on singing for
another five years, dedicating the profits of each concert to Akany Avoko.
This year’s fundraising events included ‘Frankenstein Sings’, carol singing at the Ingleborough Caves, a production of The Loan Ranger at the Gregson in Lancaster in
May and an appearance at the Tongue Tribe Summer Concert in Kendal Town Hall in
July.
The
Millennium Choir will always have a special connection with the children of
Akany Avoko, but Andy recently agreed to extend their help to destitute
children beyond the walls of Akany Avoko by supporting the new ‘Money for
Madagascar Children’s Fund’. Whilst Akany Avoko is only large enough to care
for 120 children, thousands more remain destitute and vulnerable on the streets
of the capital. This fund is born out of the desire both of Akany Avoko and MfM
to extend a lifesaving chance to more of these children.
Funds raised now will
help community centres to provide food, medical care and education to street
kids starting classes in September.
MfM would be nothing without
our joyful, steadfast fundraisers like
The
Lancaster Millenium Choir. Your donations have transformed the lives of
hundreds of children in Madagascar. THANK YOU!
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Meanwhile, in the US, project pioneer Dr Craig is exploring markets for SEPALI’s exotic new silk products including garments, furnishing and jewellery made from pressed silk cocoons. 