Volunteering In Madagascan Schools

Charlotte Steer Start Date: Jun 5, 2016 - End Date: Jan 7, 2017
  • Madagascar

My Travel Story

by: Charlotte Steer Start Date: Jun 5, 2016 - End Date: Jan 7, 2017
There is great demand among the island communities on Nosy Komba and Nosy Be to learn English to enhance future job prospects and the ability to communicate with the growing number of tourists in Madagascar, who contribute significantly to the local economy. Despite this enthusiasm towards learning English, opportunities to learn the language are scarce. I will have the opportunity to fuel this interest, taking English grammar and conversational lessons within small village schools and communities.  
The resources are extremely limited in the institutions I will be working in. Therefore, in order to contribute to my project, I hope to raise enough money to buy supplies in Madagascan shopping centers.Alternatively, if anyone is unable to donate money I would still be greatly appreciative of any of the following: 

■ Children’s clothing
■ Bubble solution
■ Face paint
■ Stickers/stamps
■ Colored drawing paper
■ Pencils/pens/markers/crayons/chalk
■ Books
■ Posters
■ Colored pavement chalk


Madagascar is such a stunning country with a lot of personality, and interesting culture. This provides me with an invaluable experience which I can apply to my anthropology degree I'll be doing the following year. I will get a unique insight into cultural diversity and help people who have come from completely different walks of life from me.

Initially, I was drawn towards Madagascar because if its stunning unique scenery and extremes of biological diversity. But when I researched into the conditions and standard of life for many Madagascan citizens I was astounded by the large volumes of people in poverty. It is estimated 77% of the population have been living on less than 1.25 dollars a day, and the number of child labourers has risen to 2,000,000 children under the age of 15. These sort of facts made me realise how much I take my life for granted and that if there is something I can do to alleviated even a few people's suffering I should do it. This lead me to MRCI and IVHQ, two NGOs who have set up projects which work with the local community offering them opportunities and resources otherwise unavailable to them.

However, it's pretty costly going to Madagascar... therefore, I'm asking you if you would be willing to donate any money towards this project.  
I will be very very grateful for ANY money given! Thank you for taking the time to read this,

Charlotte Steer
  • Madagascar