Shining a Light of Hope – examples of MFM making a difference for children in Madagascar

Money for Madagascar (MfM) supports seven different Children's Centres in and around Madagascar's Captal Antananarivo. One such centre is Akany Avoko Faravohitra; this centre cares for 50 children both day and night, and here MFM gives funds to provide nutritious food, warm meals, clothes and education (to name only a few things!).  

MFM is proud to have recently helped fund the installation of solar power – helping to ensure that there is hot water, and many other things that we may take for granted. This has helped to promote stability and the well-being of the children.

The solar panels automatically start working whenever there is a break in the electricity so that there is always light, ensuring that the children are safe whenever there are power cuts. MFM is happy to support Madagascar’s quest for solar solutions! 

As the centre is high in the mountains, it can be very cold and windy in winter - warm water will certainly be a welcome relief then! And with the solar panels, it has become easier to access – obviously helping the children, yet also the staff in their work. 

The grant has also helped provide a solar cooker for both washing and cooking – quicker than using a firewood stove! This allows staff to cook a warm midday meal quicker, meaning they can spend more time directly with the children. It is said that Vitamin D is good for you, but now sunshine really can make the difference! 

Money has also lead to the conversion of space into a library, and also the creation of an IT room and workshop for handicrafts – hopefully enough to engage the young minds! 

It is wonderful to see the children smiling and laughing, and wonderful to know that you as supporters are making a difference to their lives and prospects.

If you would like to know more about what MfM does, or to make a donation – any money you give will be guaranteed to make a direct difference in Madagascar – please see our website –  https://www.moneyformadagascar.org/

Thank you! 

URGENT APPEAL: Madagascar Drought Relief

The United Nations has warned that 1.5 million Malagasy people face severe hunger and food shortages because of the ongoing drought in the south of the country (link). The ‘El Nino’ phenomenon has resulted in unusually dry weather and means that harvests are substantially below their usual levels, with families in affected areas resorting to eating seed stocks which will further exacerbate the situation over the coming months. 

According to the UN, over a million people living in the affected regions have low food security. Without urgent action to secure food sources for these people the situation could become substantially worse. We need urgent help to allow our partners to buy new drought-resistant seed stock and equipment for farmers.  Money for Madagascar is running an urgent appeal to help those affected by this drought. Please donate now if you can!

To donate, click here.

To find out more about the crisis currently unfolding, visit http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/449030/icode/.

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

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