FAMINE APPEAL

The weather wasn’t as kind for our annual Cross Bay Walk this year but it did not deter the enthusiasm and enjoyment of our walkers, Due to the natural changes in the estuary, the safe route navigated by Guide Across The Bay was longer and involved wading across more channels.  This meant that the walk this year was over 8.5 miles; last year it was 6. In comparison, the members of our team who went to Madagascar earlier this year also waded across rivers and crossed rickety bridges but they had much better weather!

We are working on an exciting partnership with Solar United to provide solar panels to remote communities.  The staff on the recent visit to Madagascar spoke to people about how they currently light their homes. They learned about a mother who was buying candles so her children could do their school work.  However, the family’s finances were so tight, this meant that she herself was going hungry so she could afford the candles. Other people rely on paraffin lamps for light.  These can be a dangerous fire hazard and the team heard from several people about the lamps causing devastating...

In March our Chair, Director, a long-standing trustee and our Fundraiser went out to Madagascar to meet partners and see the work being done first hand.  This was the first trip since the global pandemic and it was great for them to meet up with friends and partners to see how they are and also the progress made on many of our projects. Staff were involved in lots of meetings with partners where current projects were discussed, as well as ideas and plans for exciting new projects in the future. Keep checking here for details for updates and expansion of...

Along with the Robert MacGregor Teacher Training Programme (RMTTP), and the Association Voahary Maitso, we have been involved in a week-long training programme aiming to improve teaching in the Itasy region. Robert MacGregor qualified as a teacher in Edinburgh and has been teaching since 2006.  From 2015 – 2018, Robert lived in Madagascar developing teacher training courses.  Most of the sessions over the week were delivered by trainers he has taught but Robert himself delivered one of the sessions on Active Learning as part of the programme via video link from the UK. Robert said “We are excited to collaborate...

We have a project to create and develop vegetable gardens and school canteens in two schools – EPP Mahatsara and EPP Andasifahatelo.  Providing the children and their parents with the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills will help ensure food security for these communities.   They also learn about the natural environment and protecting Madagascar’s unique biodiversity. Students learn about planting according to the season and the rotation of crops.  They successfully grew crops of different vegetables this year including courgettes, potatoes, pineapples, greens and beans.  Parents and teachers were also responsible for breeding and raising rabbits and chickens.  These provide...

We launched an appeal for funds after two major cyclones hit Madagascar in February 2022.  These killed over 100 people, destroyed infrastructure buildings and crops. Part of the money raised by your donations was given to schools to replace damaged desks.  we provided over 200 desks helping almost 1300 pupils in 8 schools. Getting the desks into the schools was a task in itself!  The wood was delivered by truck to the closest possible location then the parts carried by parents to the schools.  Carpenters visited the schools to build the desks so they could be installed in classrooms.  ...

We have several events taking place this autumn in and around Lancaster, where you can learn more about our work, help us out and buy products to raise funds for us. Williamson Park Café  Come and see an exhibition in the café about our work.  There is a lot of information, pictures, posters about latest events and some original paintings of Madagascar rural life, which are for sale in aid of our famine appeal. The paintings were kindly donated by the artist Jacinta Thomas. Pop in for a coffee and read all about us! Annual Mailing Stuffing – Wednesday 12th...

Lalasoa, the Director of AAA and AAB ended her directorship in June.  She has moved on to set up her own new project outside the Akany Avoko family. We wish her all the best in the future. We are delighted to introduce the new director at AAA and AAB – Hanta Randrianarimalala. Hanta is the perfect example of a success story from AAA.  She was orphaned at just 7 years old.  Initially she was cared for by her grandmother but then was placed at AAA with one of her sisters. Hanta worked and studied hard with the support of the...

We had a wonderful day on Saturday 25th June for our Cross Bay Walk.  130 walkers for Money for Madagascar along with others walking for different charities headed out from Arnside at 3:20pm led safely across the bay by guides from Guide Over Sands. There were a few spots of rain at the start but the weather soon cleared and we watched several dark clouds sweep past us during the walk which produced some dramatic cloudscapes. The views towards the Lake District fells to the north and out towards the Irish Sea were stunning. The walk included wading through a...

Following Covid, global inflation and crop failure from extreme weather, Madagascar is facing the sharp end of the ‘cost of living crisis’. Many essential goods such as food staples and medicines have even doubled in price over the last year. This crippling inflation affects everyone we work with. At the community level, we are increasing grants to absorb inflation so that all our activities from tree planting to school education can go ahead as planned.  In times of extreme pressure, we are also making extra emergency grants to help families facing acute hunger to purchase food to eat today and...

We are delighted to announce that we have expanded our feeding programme in schools in the area hit by the famine in Madagascar. With our partners ALT and Terres des Homes, we have started to work with three new schools in the area around the city of Betroka in the South of Madagascar.  We are especially pleased as in this area, many children work in the local mines so their family incomes are enough to buy food.  Providing meals in schools means that the children come out of child-labour, get an education and get a nutritious meal 6 days per...

Get Your Tickets For Our 5th Cross Bay Walk We have managed to secure places on the guided walk across Morecambe Bay on Sunday 14th May 2023 at 1:30pm.  Our walk across Morecambe Bay is always great for raising our spirits while raising funds to protect vulnerable children and rainforests in Madagascar. This iconic 8km walk from Arnside to Grange over Sands is an amazing experience not to be missed! This year, tickets cost £15.00 for adults, £7.50 for children and £2.00 for dogs, and tickets MUST be booked in advance. You can also purchase an MFM t-shirt for £5. ...