COVID-19 APPEAL

The programme to train local families in different techniques of rice and maize cultivation, planting fruit trees and composting has been successful.   The families who took part received seeds, saplings and tools so they were able to put their training into practice and they chose the type of saplings they wanted for their own land.  Unfortunately, the drought has meant the harvest has been disappointing but the skills they have learned will be useful and help improve production in the future.        10 hectares of degraded land were identified for restoration in Betombotsirika. This was done with the...

We have had a very positive report from our Topaza project.  Despite the pandemic, there has been a lot of progress. In September, we reported that the construction of the farm buildings was underway.  Since then two cows were purchased and a calf was born.  The amount of milk from the cows averages 35 litres per week and is a fantastic addition to feed the children and staff at the centre improving their health and nutrition. A litter of piglets was born with the intention of selling 4 and keeping the other 5 for 5 months so they could be...

We are very excited to start a new project, working with a school in near the Andasibe National Park.  The school has 96 pupils and work is already well underway to create a kitchen garden to provide produce for the school canteen. After starting at the end of November, the garden was planted with a range of vegetables including courgettes, green beans, tomatoes and peppers. Some crops have been more successful than others but topping the table so far has to be the 83kg of courgettes harvested to date!  In February the school bought three rabbits who are providing fertiliser...

Covid is now gripping Madagascar. My heart is aching for colleagues and friends that we have lost to Covid in recent weeks and with fear for more we may lose as the covid situation in Madagascar become very frightening . This time it’s not just a financial crisis for households in lockdown it’s a medical crisis. The South African variant is spreading fast. In a country with almost no medical infrastructure and very little help with medical costs or social security,  the outlook is bleak. Oxygen canisters are now extremely scarce to come by, and at £60 per canister they...

Our partners in the E4L projects have sent us an update about their progress in the eight schools run by AVM and Ankizy Gasy, Despite the pandemic, we are pleased to report that the work continues. Training has been provided for teachers on child psychology and improving classroom practice and management. School Principals had leadership training.  The teachers were very positive about the training and evidence of changed practice as a result has been observed. The children were thrilled to learn about worm composting on a school trip.  They learned how this helps improve the soil and in turn increases...

There is a humanitarian crisis in southern Madagascar where people are starving to death. There has been a drought for a number of years in this area and the restrictions with the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation.  Movement has been restricted so supplies of food have not been getting to this part of the country.  This combination has caused famine and malnutrition in the local population. Whilst our established projects concentrate on improving lives long-term for example, through education, improving sanitation and social support, there are times where immediate assistance to help in emergency situations are essential.  This is...

To combat hunger and malnutrition, MfM invests in helping vulnerable children to grown their own organic food.  Like here, where a student at Akany Avoko children’s centre is photographed showing a courgette nearly ready for harvest. At this residential centre for vulnerable and destitute kids, harvested rainwater, bio-gas and compost are used to help produce vegetables to feed 150 children.  Now faced with lock-down, the centre is more grateful than ever for their investment in self-sufficiency. MfM gives regular support to Akany Avoko children’s centre. Much of the money we are able to send is thanks to sponsors in the...

It’s time to share some good news from our sustainable livelihoods project, run by SAF, in the villages surrounding Madagascar’s unique Betampona Reserve.  Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, they have had a successful year and the development and conservation in the area has achieved good results. The local population are learning ways to improve their agricultural practices to improve their income and nutrition in sustainable ways.  This helps reduce the forest being destroyed through ‘slash and burn’ and wildlife poaching. More productive agricultural techniques have also meant that the diets and therefore the health of the people have improved.  The sale...

                      The generous UWI grant awarded to the Topaza Children’s centre has been put to good use.  The centre is struggling financially with no funding coming from the state for several years to help support children sent there from the courts.  Topaza relies mostly on donations and sponsorship of children to keep the home open so this very generous grant is very welcome to help the financial stability of the centre. The majority of the grant was spent on a new minibus for the centre.  This arrived in July and...

                        The Covid crisis has meant that there are no tourists coming to our projects at Andisibe.   To prevent unemployment and poverty we have provided grants to the Association of Mitsinjo.  They have used the grants in a number of innovative ways, not only to help with the immediate situation, but also to increase what is offered to tourists which should boost income when they return to this beautiful area. The local guides have been working hard in the forest creating two new routes – one is a night...

Education for Life is a programme to provide resources to help with the education of children and funds to improve facilities at schools. Over 10,000 children, teachers and parents, have benefited from this programme in 54 schools.     Our Education for Life programme, along with our partner Ankizy Gasy, helped the FJKM School in Ambohidratrimo.  We have previously helped restore the school building here. This time, we made a contribution towards the wages of ten teachers; the income of the school in May was much lower than normal as the Covid 19 pandemic means that the price of food...

    This Fathers’ Day was made very special by our great partners at Ankizy Gasy!       Whilst the men may have had a day of rest, our strong female team was out there once again, delivering their 6th round of Covid assistance to vulnerable families in and around Ambohidratrimo, Analamanga. Families in need receive small grants, soap, masks, information and medication when needed. Several visits have also been made to our Education for Life Schools, like Angodonina and FJKM Ambohidratrimo,  to set-up hand washing stations and give out masks, soap and information,  so exam classes can restart...