Madagascar

Madagascar: Uplifting Childhood on an Island of Contrast and Crisis

Explore Madagascar:

Discover how children on this biodiverse island are growing up through hunger, climate disruption, and educational neglect — and meet the grassroots leaders restoring hope from coast to coast.

The Situation for Children in Madagascar

Madagascar is a land of stunning beauty and ecological wonder, but its children face a different reality — one marked by chronic hunger, missed schooling, and worsening climate impacts. These are the three most urgent challenges:

Chronic Malnutrition and Food Insecurity

Over 40% of children under five are chronically malnourished, especially in southern regions plagued by drought. Many go to school hungry or drop out to search for food.

Limited Access to Quality and Inclusive Education

Rural schools are often overcrowded, under-resourced, and far from home. Children with disabilities are frequently excluded, and dropout rates spike after primary school — especially among girls.

Climate Disasters and Drought-Driven Displacement

Southern Madagascar is experiencing one of the world’s first climate-driven famines. Drought, cyclones, and crop failures have displaced families, eroded livelihoods, and pushed children deeper into survival mode.

Despite these challenges, Madagascar’s children remain full of hope, dreaming of education, health, and opportunities for a better tomorrow.

Key Contributor #1: Zazakely Sambatra Foundation

Feeding, Teaching, and Mentoring Children in Rural Madagascar

In the outskirts of Antananarivo and southern drought zones, Zazakely Sambatra runs nutrition programs, after-school tutoring, and youth empowerment workshops. They provide hot meals, school supplies, and mentorship for children who would otherwise be working or malnourished.

Their team includes former students who now teach, serve, and inspire. In their learning centers, children find books, balance, and a reason to stay hopeful — even when the land around them offers little.

Zazakely turns hunger into healing — and students into storytellers.

Key Contributor #2: Fianakaviana Sambatra (FISA)

Supporting Children With Disabilities Through Education and Acceptance

In a country where disability often leads to isolation, FISA provides inclusive classrooms, therapy, and family counseling for children with physical or cognitive differences. They work in schools and homes, equipping teachers and caregivers with tools to include — not exclude.

FISA also advocates for policy change and public awareness, breaking silence around children who have long been left behind.

For children once hidden, FISA opens doors — and hearts.

Key Event #1: Emergency Meal Kit Campaign – Androy Region

Feeding Children in Madagascar’s Climate-Driven Famine Zone

In 2023, Zazakely Sambatra launched an Emergency Meal Kit Campaign in the southern Androy region, distributing thousands of high-calorie meals, clean water kits, and school snack packs to families displaced by drought.

Children received nutrition screening and medical checkups, while mobile kitchens served daily meals in local schoolyards. Some children had not eaten for days before the kits arrived.

This wasn’t just relief — it was renewal.

Key Event #2: Inclusive Play Festival – Antsirabe

Creating Safe, Joyful Spaces for Children With Disabilities

In 2024, FISA hosted the first-ever Inclusive Play Festival in Antsirabe, welcoming children with and without disabilities to a day of games, music, and team activities designed for full participation.

Parents attended workshops on stigma, teachers explored adaptive learning methods, and children created artwork to share their dreams. Laughter filled the space — alongside ramps, braille books, and wheelchair-accessible games.

The event proved that inclusion isn’t extra — it’s essential.

Top Grassroot Nonprofits Across Madagascar