Schooling 2013-2014

The NGO Jeunes Actifs pour le Développement (JADE) set up a project to help with the schooling of disadvantaged children in the villages of Vatomandry, Ambodisaina and Ambodimanga. This project aims to help families in rural areas finance their children's schooling by fighting poverty. Children are chosen based on their enthusiasm for their studies and their merit, according to criteria related to their family situation, their age and the reasoned opinion of resource persons. The project was carried out in 4 stages for each target village, with its annual implementation limited by the funding granted by donors, and aid could only be granted to 11 children per village.

Ambodisaina - October 07, 2013

Two members of the NGO JADE traveled by bush taxi to reach EPP Ambodimanga II, in an isolated region of Madagascar where the inhabitants live mainly from agriculture. The handover of school supplies and the annual fee payment took place in the presence of the school headmaster, a FRAM representative, the parents of scholarship students and the students themselves. The average monthly household income in the Ambodimanga II fokontany is about 50,000 MGA, and the parents of the scholarship students present have various occupations, ranging from farmers to teachers.

Ambodimanga II - October 12, 2013

Two members of the NGO JADE, accompanied by an external collaborator, traveled by bush taxi for a ceremony to hand over school supplies and pay the annual fees at EPP Ambodimanga II. The school headmaster, a FRAM representative, the parents of the scholarship students and the students themselves were also present. Ambodimanga II is a fokontany located about 10 km west of the city of Fénérive-Est in a region that is very difficult to access. The 1,552 inhabitants of the fokontany live mainly from subsistence farming, with average monthly incomes of about 50,000 MGA. The parents of the scholarship recipients present at the ceremony are mainly farmers (68%), and the others work in various small trades. Monthly incomes vary greatly, ranging from 10,000 to 70,000 MGA depending on the occupation, for an average of about 40,000 MGA per month per household.

Tsarasambo - October 12, 2013

Members of the NGO JADE traveled by private car for a session to hand over school supplies and pay the annual school fees at EPP Tsarasambo. The classroom of EPP Tsarasambo welcomed parents of scholarship students and students, as well as one of the headmasters of EPP Tsarasambo and EPP Ampaho (both located in the same rural municipality). Tsarasambo is a rural municipality located 12 kilometers south of Vatomandry, on the east coast of Madagascar, with a population recorded at 1,982 in 2012. Monthly incomes are estimated at about 30,000 Ar per inhabitant (2011). The main economic activities are fishing and agriculture.

The project enabled the schooling of 33 children, 58% of them girls and 42% boys, on average 9 years and five months old. However, the overall success rate of the students is only 67%, mainly due to difficulties encountered in schooling at EPP Ambodisaina. The parents of the scholarship recipients are in difficult financial situations, notably due to the death of a parent, separation, unemployment, mental health issues or insufficient income. However, some children are supported despite sufficient means, due to their good academic results and their determination.