Support Development in Madagascar whilst you shop!

Supporting a charity whilst Christmas shopping is only a mouse-click away...

Christmas is one of the busiest times for shoppers and shopkeepers alike as we search for those special presents for our loved ones. Increasingly online shopping is being used for quick and convenient ordering without having to leave the house.

Christmas is also a busy time for fundraisers like Money for Madagascar as we try to tap into the Christmas spirit with sales of Christmas cards and calendars, and appeals for special projects through donations and Alternative gifts.  Much of this is also done online. 

Recently several schemes have been set up to help shoppers raise money for their favourite charities simply by shopping online. It's simple, thousands of stores have signed up to donate a percentage of every online purchase to charity - at no cost to the shopper.

For every purchase that you make a small % goes to your named charity. It’s amazing how quickly you can build up quite a donation to your favoured charity. Have you thought of supporting Money for Madagascar in this way?

Online shopping is now a part of everyday life. We aren’t trying to promote online shopping over local shops because, as we know from our work in Madagascar, it’s also important to support local enterprise.  However, many small shops and enterprises also rely on online sales for much of their business.  So if you already shop online for such things as your weekly shop, presents, clothing, DVDs, electrical and domestic goods why not turn your normal purchases into a fundraising activity at the same time? 

By nominating your favoured charity from over 200,000 charities you can donate with every purchase you make - at no additional cost to you. We would be very grateful if you would help us to raise funds by shopping for Money for Madagascar.

Two companies that our supporters already use are:

• Give as you live:   www.giveasyoulive.com 
• All you have to do is download Give as you Live (it is totally secure and it takes only a few seconds to register a password and username) and then you can shop online using the same stores that you already use.
• Easyfundraising: http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/moneyformadagascar.
• To raise funds you just log in before you start shopping, using the username and password you have chosen, and up to 15% from each purchase can be donated to Money For Madagascar.

Happy Shopping!

Don't Panic!

The 30^th of November sees tireless fundraisers (and previous cover stars of this very blog!) Lancaster’s “Millennium Choir” premier their latest production “Eight Songs for Everyday Emergencies” in support of Akany Avoko Children’s Shelter in Madagascar.

Ever wondered how to perform a tracheotomy? Or land a plane? The Millennium Choir will tell you how, along with other survival tips, in their own unique way. They'll even solve the banking crisis - now surely that's worth a small £7 investment?!

With support from Take Three jazz trio and Bivocal banjo/piano accordion duo the event, at the Gregson Community Centre, Lancaster, will also feature a craft stall selling Malagasy crafts in support of MfM-sponsored projects.

Composer Andy Whitfield and The Millennium Choir in action

Tickets are £7/£5 on the door so “tongava maro” (come in large numbers) as they say in Madagascar and enjoy a fantastic evening’s entertainment, support a worthy Malagasy cause, and pick up some priceless survival tips into the bargain!

Visit the event’s facebook page here: www.facebook.com/events/450573721661594 to learn more...

or visit The Gregson Community Centre's website: www.gregson.co.uk for more details of the venue and how to get there.

Email irenee@moneyformadagascar.org with any other questions - we look forward to seeing you there!

Back to school - with your help!

Access to education is a right denied to thousands of Malagasy children, none more so than those living in remote rural areas. 

Local dignitaries cut the ribbon to open the latest MfM-funded school in rural Madagascar

August saw the inauguration of the a new MFM-funded school in the rural Commune of Maritampona. This star-studded (by rural Malagasy standards!) event was attended by one of Money for Madagascar's most trusted development partners - Mr Martin Ravelomanantsoa (Director of Association ALF), who had overseen the construction project, along with a host of dignitaries including the Head of the Region. But of course the most important VIP's in attendance were the 275 excited schoolchildren whose lives will be changed by the new facility. 

The real VIP's of the inauguration - the dozens of schoolchildren whose lives will be changed by this new facility.

In his speech the Head of Region praised the new 3-classroom facility that Money for Madagascar and ALF had delivered stating that "this  new building is going to help a lot, not just the children of our village but also the children of many neighbouring villages".

The primary school at  Ampihoaramaso is the latest in a long line of schools and classrooms built by our Malagasy partner organisations thanks solely to the kindness and generosity of Money for Madagascar's supporters. Without a decent education there is little hope that the children of rural Madagascar will ever escape the poverty trap and realise their full potential. 

Director of ALF and trusted MfM partner: Martin Ravelomanantsoa accepts the congratulations of the Head of Region. 

By working through local partner organisations Money for Madagascar also helps to ensure that the capacity to identify and prioritise needs, apply for funding and manage projects through to completion is encouraged and supported.  We believe that this approach will also help ensure that the ingenuity and energy of the inspirational people we work with helps the broadest number of beneficiaries possible.