MADAWORKS IN MADAGASCAR!

NEW SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS, NEW PARTNERS, NEW GRANT, HOLIDAY PROMO, MUSIC, AND A GROWING PROGRAM!

OUR FIRST US EMBASSY GRANT

Madaworks is GROWING! We are very pleased to announce that we have received our first grant from the US Embassy in Madagascar. The grant will provide for the education of three more girls. The project supports one of the Mission’s priorities which are to advance accountability and human rights in Madagascar through the promotion of enhanced and educated civic participation, particularly of youth and women. We will be able to start their high school careers in the fall of 2018. Applications will be distributed in spring 2018 and selections made over the summer of 2018. Can’t wait!

OUR STUDENTS

Madaworks Awards Ceremony for new Scholarship Students

Olga Marie Ramanampitahiry, Viviene Marie Rahanitriniala and Jeannine Ravaonirina, are our new scholarship students for 2017. These girls want to become a teacher, a doctor and a pastor. Madaworks will help get them on their way to plan these futures, by providing high school for them. Thanks to our donors, Jane Chapey, Bethany Siegel and Mar Y Sol, along with other supporters. Our donors have helped make their dreams closer to reality. With the addition of the US Embassy supported girls, we will have a program that has grown from one student to 10 girls in less than two years. A National Geographic Explorer tour happened to be visiting Centre ValBio on the day of the Madaworks’ Awards Ceremony. They were very moved by the ceremony and what Madaworks is accomplishing. As we gain more funding we will keep adding girls. Speaking of our first student, Julie Rakotozafy, recently stopped by Centre ValBio to say hello and thank us again for our support. She is now a successful university student studying nursing in Fianarantsoa. Looking back at her photo when she first came to us, it is amazing to see how she has transformed into a lovely young woman with a purpose! She loves university and is continuing to do well.

Julie and her mom, October 2017

Julie when she started with Madaworks, 2015

With immense gratitude we would like to thank the MetroGnomes, a violin group comprised of children ages 5-16, for their incredible fundraiser performance for Madaworks. Shout out to Thalia Greenhalgh, the studio director, for her countless hours, dedication and enthusiasm. Without her our event would not have been possible. Thanks also to Pastor Roy and the Centerport United Methodist Church for so generously hosting the event for us, and to our donors and supporters. We had a wonderful turnout with all proceeds going to the Madaworks program! Thank you all!

HOLIDAY PROMO: SHARE THE LOVE WITH MAR Y SOL!

r to left: Founder of Mar Y Sol, Laurel Brandstetter, Diane Powers and Andiyah Patrick

Share the love! We are very excited about the support of Mar Y Sol, who are generously donating to help more of our girls. Mar Y Sol is a wonderful accessories company that has been working in Madagascar for years, allowing families to gain economic independence. They have incredible Malagasy made bags and accessories for sale on their website. They are helping us with marketing expertise to help grow opportunities for the women’s weaving collectives we work with. This holiday season they are generously doing a ‘Holiday Promo’ in support of Madaworks. Follow us on Instagram for all the news. Stay tuned!   In September we were delighted to be invited to the first Madagascar Exhibit: Culture and Potentiality. It was organized by the Malagasy community in New York, NY Valiha. Centre ValBio also participated to showcase their work in Madagascar. The exhibit took place in New York City at the Gallery Rivaa. This show was an opportunity to show the incredible diversity of Malagasy culture and artistry. It offered an introduction of Madagascar to New Yorkers and helped to increase awareness about the potential of Madagascar. The Foreign Minister of Madagascar, the Ambassador to US from Madagascar and the Consul General of Madagascar all stopped by. We were all featured on a news clip on the Malagasy News in Madagascar! It was a great experience.

Madagascar Exhibit NYC

PARTNERSHIPS CONTINUE

No one organization can change a country, which is why we are proud to have been invited to join the PHE Madagascar Network (Population Health Environment). PHE is a holistic approach to sustainable development integrating family planning and other health services with community-based natural resource management and biodiversity conservation efforts. We participated in a PHE workshop, hosted by Centre ValBio, which gathered other NGO partners working collaboratively to develop initiatives that improve the health of both people and the environment. Thanks to Santatra, our assistant on the ground for presenting the Madaworks’ poster, and to Centre ValBio!  

Santatra at PHE Workshop and PHE Partners

We have come a long way in less than two years and hope that you will consider a donation to help continue our growth. Any amount is always welcome! Thanks to all of our team in Madagascar, our board members, Centre ValBio, our donors, friends and supporters. More to follow, stay tuned!