Visiting Madagascar

Akany Avoko Ambohidratrimo (AAA)

(located near Ivato Airport just 15km from Tana)

Home for more than a hundred destitute children.  The kids are offered the chance to live in a loving, secure environment whilst receiving nutritious food and a great education.

Activities for Tourists

Visit for (1-3) hours from 9 to 12 when you can appreciate:

• the eco-friendly system developed as the centre aims for self-sufficiency in electricity, water, food, and fuel
• children studying in the classrooms
• young people attending vocational training
• young people cooking lunch together

Akany Avoko Ambohidratrimo can offer lunches and lodging. Three guest houses can accommodate up to 15 people and a dormitory for groups up to 40 people. To book lunch, contact Mme Olivia one day in advance.

Akany Avoko Faravohitra

(located in central Tana near the palace and museum)

Home to 80 teenaged girls. Rescued from destitution the girls are offered the chance to live in a loving, secure environment whilst receiving nutritious food and a great education.

Activities for Tourists

Visit for one (1) hour from 9:30 to 10:30 or 2.30 to 3:30 when you can:

• tour the centre and learn about its vital work to help vulnerable girls. • meet young people and see their activities - hairdressing, baking, craft production, school lessons. • experience a traditional song / dance.

Traditional songs and dancing may be performed by the girls depending on the time / day of the visit. Basketry, embroidery and other items made by the girls during their training may be purchased as souvenirs.

Centre Fihavanana (Sisters of Good Shepherd)

(located in Mahamasina area of central Tana)

Madagascar’s underfunded education system is barely able to provide a basic primary education to pupils in mainstream schooling.

For over a decade, MfM has sponsored the salaries of teachers at this day centre. Here 150 homeless and vulnerable children from the poor parts of Tana are given a hand up to help them rejoin society. They receive catch-up classes, medical care, social work support and hot meals. Teenaged girls also receive vocational training to help them to find employment.

Activities for Tourists

Visit for one and a half hour between 9 and 11 when you can appreciate children studying in class

Akany Hasina

(located in Ambohidrabiby 25km just over a one hour drive away from Tana)

Ambohidrabiby is one of the 12 sacred hills of Imerina, which have great historical significance for Merina people in Madagascar.  MfM supports a cultural centre where around 60 children from surrounding villages are improving their English and learning and performing traditional dance and music.

Activities for tourists

Visit for one hour from 8:30 to 9:30 and come and see:
• traditional dance performed by children under the sound of melodious Malagasy “valiha” and drums.
• Watch or help with student’s English classes

Forest restoration in Torotorofotsy Wetland.

(located in Andasibe, Moramanga)

Association Mitsinjo is one of stakeholders contributing to preserving the 4th Ramsar site of Torotorofotsy in Madagascar. Its intervention focuses on the restoration of natural corridors in 293 ha degraded forest, which used to be habitat of endemic and threatened species, while improving farmers’ livelihoods.

Activities for Tourists

The protected area managed by Association Mitsinjo is located next to the National Park of Andasibe,140km (2 ½ hours drive) from Antananarivo. There you will be able to see lemurs and endemic fauna and flora including beautiful orchids and also local handicrafts made by a local women’s association.

Allow for a 3-hour visit: The site of Torotorofotsy is 7km from Andasibe village and can be reached by car or bike. After a short walk in the mountain, you will be able to see forest restoration activities led by farmers including work in the tree nursery, tree planting and forest maintenance.

You can combine the trip with a circuit in the Mitsinjo forest to discover endemic species like the Indri Indri lemur or Parson’s chameleons, etc.(10eur for short circuit, 15eur for full circuit). Association Mitsinjo can also offer rooms at Tsierena Guest House where you can taste delicious food made by M. Alain’s great cook!

Education for Life Programme

Supporting more than 54 schools across 6 regions. Visits can be arranged to the most accessible schools in the following regions:

• Analamanga (Tana outskirts)
• Itasy
• Antsirabe

In Madagascar children dream of the chance to get an education. But for most the obstacles are too great. Remote rural schools lack everything from classrooms, water and toilets, to teachers and books. The children themselves are often too hungry or sick to study and the parents can barely afford the fees.

MfM aims to bring hope and prosperity to Madagascar’s forgotten children through an integrated programme,
working with communities to provide: classrooms, water, toilets, books, teacher-training, environmental education,
kitchen gardens, school canteens and solar power.

Activities for Tourists

You can choose your destination with the local partners. There are 34 schools integrated in this “Education for Life” programme.

During a 2-hour visit in each school, you will see main activities including:

• Meet students and teachers. Find out about how they are striving to improve their educational opportunities.
• See the students studying/playing/singing.
• Visit the school kitchen garden/school canteen.
• You would be welcome to bring donations of school supplies/teaching resources like posters or balls for sport.