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‘The AAA centre is much more than just a shelter, because here we can fully enjoy our rights and live in peace, far from stress.’
Aina, 14
The Big Give has become our largest single fundraising campaign of the year. It helps us – and you, as a donor – to make an even greater difference to the lives of Malagasy communities because thanks to our pre-pledgers and our champion fundraiser this year, the Coles-Medlock Foundation, every donation is doubled in value.
This year (2025) we set out to raise our biggest-ever total: £50,000, which would be doubled in value to £100,000.
And thanks to you, your support, your donation and your belief in us, we not only reached that target, we reached it with two and a half (of seven) days to spare. Late on Saturday/early on Sunday 6th/7th December 2025, your donations reached the £50,000 mark. At 12pm on Tuesday 9th Decmber the challenged close, and we have £101,602.
Thank you all, so much.
That money will of course not go to ‘us’, but to Malagasy communities, this year through our Education for Life and Children for the Future programmes.
Both programmes work with our Malagasy partners and Malagasy people to transform the lives of Malagasy children and the communities of which they are part.
They do so by ensuring access to the highest-possible standard of education for all children, helping them make sure they are able to focus and fulfil their potential by ensuring they eat nutritious food and have access to clean water.
In the case of Children for the Future we and our partners also provide children and young people who cannot live with their families and would otherwise be forced onto the street, where in many cases crime is the only way to survive, with shelter, clothing food, healthcare, water, and the care and attention they need and deserve.
The programme reached a total of 1,695 children in the last year alone, and your donation – which will be doubled in value – will help keep them safe, healthy, and give them and many other children the best possible start in life, as well as benefitting the communities of which they are part now, and for years to come.
Two of those children are Aina and Volana, aged 14 and 11.
Aina and Volana live at the Akany Avoko Ambohidratimo children’s centre, a 150-capacity home which currently houses105 children; girls aged 0-18 and boys aged 0-8 years old, and is one of Money for Madagascar’s oldest partners.
The girls arrived in June 2023, and Aina explained: ‘The AAA centre is much more than just a shelter, because here we can fully enjoy our rights and live in peace, far from stress.
‘When I first arrived, I was withdrawn and refused to interact with anyone.
‘If I was asked to do something, I refused to go; if I was asked to participate in class, I refused as well. I refused to talk to anyone and was arrogant and disrespectful.
‘However, thanks to the education on good manners, the advice of the educators, and learning mutual respect within the centre, my personality completely changed: I became more tolerant, I readily accept when asked to do something, I learned to communicate with everyone, to respect others, and I actively participated in class.
‘I really feel that my education at the AAA centre is better than what I received at home, because it made me wiser and my mind is now more open to the future, knowing that I will not stay here forever, even though living here is beneficial for me.
‘I am grateful to the educators who raise and guide us so that I can become a dignified and good person, because everything I have learned at the centre will serve me well throughout my life.’
Volana added: ‘When I arrived here in June 2023, I was very shy and didn’t want to talk at all. But thanks to the education I received at the centre, I was able to overcome my shyness and now I can express my thoughts and feelings to my friends and educators.
‘I like living at the AAA centre because the environment here is very good, unlike what we have in our family.
‘We are raised like sisters, and the educators and administrators at the centre are all wonderful. My favourite activities at the centre are dancing and singing, because I love to sing and dance, and that’s what helped me overcome my shyness.’
Aina and Volana are just two of the thousands of children whose lives have been transformed by Children for the Future and Education for Life this year alone.
And your generous contribution will help us continue their care and progress, providing them the opportunity to enjoy their childhood, and reach their full potential.
It will also enable us to reach even more Malagasy youngsters, and benefit them and the communities of which they are part: your donation has double the value, and triple the impact.
Together, we are transforming the lives on Malagasy children, and the communities of which they are part.
You can still donate to Education for Life, Children for the Future or any (or all) of our programmes, at: https://moneyformadagascar.org/online-donation-form/
