Schooling support 2019-2020

As it does every year since 2009, the NGO Jeunes Actifs pour le Développement (JADE) has run a project to support the schooling of disadvantaged children in the villages of Vatomandry, Ambodisaina and Ambodimanga, as part of its "Fight against poverty" focus area. The project aims to help rural families finance their children's schooling when they lack the financial means, provided the children are willing to attend school regularly. It also aims to encourage children to persevere in their studies by turning them into role models to follow.

The distribution of school kits was organized in October and November 2019 in the primary schools of these villages.

Ambodisaina - October 31, 2019

In the fokontany of Ambodisaina, where the distribution session took place in a classroom of EPP Ambodisaina, representatives of ONG JADE and the scholarship pupils' parents were present. This fokontany is located in the suburban area of Toamasina II and is said to have more than 12,000 inhabitants who live mainly from agriculture, livestock farming, and the production and sale of charcoal and ravim-pontsy (traditional roofing), as well as from collecting the town's garbage.

Fanara - November 4, 2019

In the fokontany of Vohitamboro, where EPP Fanara is located, the distribution of school kits also took place in a classroom of the school in the presence of ONG JADE, the school's headmaster, a few teachers, parents and pupils. This fokontany is located in the rural area of Toamasina II, more than 30 km north of the town of Tamatave and close to National Road RN5. The headmaster of EPP Fanara stated that the fokontany currently has close to 2,400 inhabitants who live mainly from agriculture, gravel-breaking, and handicrafts.

Ambodimanga II - November 4, 2019

Three members of ONG JADE attended the distribution of school kits in Ambodimanga II, which took place in a classroom of the school in the presence of ONG JADE, the headmaster and other school representatives, FRAM representatives, a few parents and all the children. This fokontany is located about 10 km west of the town of Fénérive-Est, in a remote area that is difficult to access. The fokontany's 1,200 inhabitants live mainly from subsistence farming, such as rice, cassava, bananas and spices like vanilla and cloves. The fokontany is served only by a single secondary road in poor condition, and getting there requires a 4x4 vehicle or walking on foot.

Andranokobaka - November 7, 2019

The fokontany of Andranokobaka is located about 50 kilometers north of Tamatave and is accessible only via a secondary road linking the village to National Road RN2. Three members of ONG JADE traveled to the site for the distribution of school supplies to pupils of the local primary school, in the presence of the SAP chief, the fokontany chief and various community members. Monthly household income in this fokontany is estimated at only 20,000 Ar (around €5), and subsistence farming is the region's main economic activity, with crops of bananas, ravimpontsy and rice. Despite the economic difficulties, the people of Andranokobaka came together to welcome the organization's members and turn this day of school supply distribution into a warm, friendly occasion.

The project enabled a little more than a third of the children concerned, i.e. 22 out of 60, to be schooled with the help of the Association SorOptimisten Pirna and other German donors. The rest of the children were schooled thanks to donations from these donors. In total, the project cost 5,373,700 Ariary (i.e. 26,868,500 FMG), equivalent to €1,343.43. On average, the cost per child for the 2019-2020 school year was 89,562 Ariary (i.e. 447,808 FMG, or €22.39), representing an increase of about 22% compared to the previous year. This increase is due to higher prices for certain supplies and education-related fees in two localities.