Schooling support 2018-2019

The NGO Jeunes Actifs pour le Développement (JADE) has run a project to support the primary schooling of disadvantaged children in the villages of Vatomandry, Ambodisaina and Ambodimanga. Since its creation in 2009, the project has been renewed every year and aims to help rural families finance their children's schooling and to encourage them to persevere in their studies by following the example of the organization's young members, who serve as role models to follow.

The project was carried out in 4 stages for each target village, the first two of which
were first carried out in 2009 (with the exception of Tsarasambo/Ampaho, Fanara and
Andranokobaka):
The first phase consisted of a preliminary survey among resource persons in each village and among households to gather the necessary socio-economic and demographic data, as well as the reasons given for not sending children to school. The second stage allowed beneficiaries to be selected in consultation with the mayor or fokontany chief and the EPP headmaster/headmistress, according to several criteria. The third stage consisted of implementing the project, in which parents committed in writing to using the supplies solely for the designated child's schooling and to complying with the follow-up requirements set by ONG Jade. The fourth and final stage will be the monitoring and evaluation of scholarship pupils and teachers through surveys to track the children's progress within the school.

The distribution of school kits was organized in November and December 2018 in the primary schools of these villages

Ambodisaina - November 22, 2018)

ONG JADE traveled on November 22, accompanied by an external collaborator, to distribute scholarships to pupils at a primary school in Ambodisaina. During the distribution, representatives of the EPP concerned, the scholarship pupils' parents and the pupils themselves were present. The parents stated that they had financial difficulties in providing for their children's schooling, with some of them even in particularly difficult situations, such as divorce or single parenthood. The parents present came from a large town, which is reflected in the diversity of their occupations. On average, these households have a monthly income of 94,000 Ariary, or around €24, with incomes ranging from 40,000 to 300,000 Ariary per month.

Fanara - November 27, 2018

The organization held a distribution ceremony at EPP Fanara, in Toamasina II, in the rural fokontany of Vohitamboro. Four organization members traveled to the site, using bush taxi and walking a distance of 2 kilometers. School representatives, teachers, parents and pupils attended the distribution ceremony, which took place in a classroom. According to the headmaster, the fokontany has close to 1,000 inhabitants who live mainly from agriculture and gravel-breaking. On average, an ordinary household in Vohitamboro earns about 200,000 Ariary, or nearly €50, per month. Although this is high for the region, there is no basic healthcare infrastructure available in the area. However, there are 3 public schools in the area, and the headmaster estimates the commune's children's schooling rate at 95%.

Andranokobaka - December 3, 2018

ONG JADE traveled to the fokontany of Ambodikinina to distribute school supplies and pay the FRAM fees. The ceremony was held in a room at EPP Andranokobaka in the presence of the fokontany chief, the headmaster of the Andranokobaka primary school, the FRAM and FEFI presidents, as well as parents and pupils. The fokontany is located 12 kilometers west of National Road RN2, accessible only via a secondary road, about 50 kilometers north of Tamatave. The fokontany's population is about 1,470, and the fokontany chief estimates monthly income per inhabitant at 20,000 Ariary (around €5). The main economic activities are subsistence farming, particularly the cultivation of bananas, ravimpontsy and rice.

Ambodimanga II - December 3, 2018

Three organization members traveled to Ambodimanga II to distribute school supplies to pupils and meet with local representatives, after a one-night stop in Fénérive-Est and a change of bush taxi. The ceremony was held in a classroom of the school, in the presence of the headmaster, FRAM representatives, parents and all the children. Ambodimanga II is a fokontany located about 10 km west of Fénérive-Est, in a remote area that is difficult to access. The 1,600 inhabitants live mainly from subsistence farming, producing rice, cassava, bananas and seasonal spices. The fokontany is served only by a single secondary road in poor condition, requiring a 4x4 vehicle or walking on foot. Close to 95% of children are enrolled at the village's only primary school and junior high school, which is currently attended by close to 160 pupils.

The 2018-2019 schooling project was a great success this year, enrolling a total of 60 children, a majority of them girls (62%). Our pupils' success rate, although not up to our expectations, remains satisfactory nonetheless, with 45% of them reaching the next grade. It is important to note that all the scholarship pupils we supported this year experienced financial difficulties on the part of their parents, for various reasons such as the death of a parent, parental separation, unemployment, mental health issues, or insufficient income. Regarding financial results, 45.2% of the children were schooled thanks to the help of the Association SorOptimisten Pirna, and the rest were funded by private German donors. In total, we spent 4,310,372 Ariary on the purchase of supplies, annual school fees and other expenses related to this project. On average, each child's back-to-school costs came to 71,840 Ariary, which represents a slight decrease compared to the previous year. Despite the increase in some prices, we managed to keep our costs down thanks to our organizational efficiency.