On 1st September, Madagascar kicked off their new academic year. For the first time since the project started, both Community and Learning Centers launched the year offering all classes from Kindergarten through to Grade 12. In 2023, our first Grade 12 class at Itaosy will sit for their senior national exam called the Baccalaureate. These […]
Category: Uncategorized
Hardships and Hope
It is a remarkable thing to live in poverty and yet not have a poverty mindset. Currently listed as the 11th poorest nation in the world1, Madagascar is steeped in centuries of unequivocal hardship. Everywhere you turn, you are faced with poverty. The moment you leave the airport and make the 30-minute drive to the […]
You Raise Me Up
From the beginning of its inception, the project has stayed true to one goal: To release the potential of a nation. We wholeheartedly believe this is best achieved through education, and have stayed true to this focus over the past 16 years to deliver affordable, quality schooling to children in Madagascar. Today, CLC Anosibe offers […]
King Julian and Friends
Mention that you’re traveling to Madagascar and without fail, you’ll be asked, “Are you going to see King Julian?” Every time. For those in the know, DreamWorks released a film in 2005 called Madagascar, that starred a naïve and hilarious ring-tailed lemur called King Julian. He really was a funny guy who was easily loveable, […]
Doing Life Together
In Madagascar, there is a word that embodies the truest form of friendship, community and togetherness, which is found in the very fabric of the nation’s culture. Fihavanana (pronounced ‘fee-hA-va-Na-na’) roughly translates to family, though to the Malagasy, the borders of family extend far beyond blood relatives. It was this sense of kinship that left […]
In The Classroom
Our students are amazing. On the whole, their willingness to learn and appetite for education is quite inspiring to see in action, and we had front-row seats. Each MADATrek team member was tasked with official classroom duties while in country, reflective of their specific skill-set and expertise. Kate and Sarah were proficient in artistry, including […]
Let’s Celebrate
Milestones are worth celebrating. Last year, we saw our first Grade 12 students at the Anosibe Community and Learning Centre (CLC) complete 12 years of schooling and successfully pass the Baccalaureate national exam. We were ready to party and booked our tickets with building anticipation. The day was set, the plans were made and staff […]
A City in Lock-Down
On 21st March 2020, Madagascar reported its first three cases of COVID-19. Declared a ‘State of Health Emergency’ two days later, Antananarivo was placed in lock-down with strict restrictions implemented to deal with the spread of the virus. Schools, including our CLCs, were also closed at this time. One containment measure allowed for only grocery […]