Day 13

Three main meals for a schoolchild in Madagascar

It's easier to learn with a full stomach It's easier to learn with a full stomach

Meals for schoolchildren in rural Madagascar

Have you ever been wished to go "where the pepper grows"? Then look forward to a visit to Madagascar. Aside from the party-loving lemurs from the animated film "Madagascar", many people know very little about the former French colony and the fourth largest island in the world. 18 different ethnic groups live together peacefully in Madagascar, making the island a bridge between Africa and Asia. It is also called the Spice Island. It has enormous natural and mineral resources. Nevertheless, over 80 percent of Madagascans live below the poverty line (UNDP, 2018). Two out of three children in rural Madagascar have no chance of receiving an education beyond primary school (UNDP, 2018). Many children would have to leave their families and move to the city. Only very few of them can afford that.

need

Daily meals and a safe roof over their heads for school children in Madagascar.

activity

Preparation of daily meals for school children at the ALABRI center.

Measurable performance

Number of meals distributed at the ALABRI center.

Result

Schoolchildren benefit from a healthy diet and can concentrate better in class. This leads to better graduation rates and school education.

Systemically relevant impact

The nutritional and educational situation of children is improving and Malagasy young people are actively shaping their own future.

background

Almost half of the approximately 26 million Malagasy people are minors (UNDP, 2018). Education therefore plays a central role in the country's development. However, 65 percent of children drop out of primary school before completing it (ETVA, 2015) because they have to help in the fields at home and do not have the money to pay school fees. Attending secondary school is therefore only open to a few children and the path to it is full of obstacles. The children often have to leave their parents at a young age and look for affordable accommodation in cities like Miarinarivo. They are completely on their own. Insufficient financial resources, a lack of medical care and no one to ask for advice: these students have to face these challenges on a regular basis.

The good deed

With your calendar donation today, you are financing three balanced meals for each school child at the "ALABRI" center. The meals and the dormitory ensure that the children receive the basic necessities they need. In addition to balanced meals, this also includes a safe roof over their heads and medical care. In addition, extracurricular activities prepare the students for their future everyday lives. These include joint homework support, language training, sports, culture, career guidance and the sustainable cultivation of food.