Madagascar

Country Background

Despite Madagascar's proximity to mainland Africa, its population and culture are unique. Madagascar's population is largely a combination of Asian and African origins. About 41% of the Malagasy are Christian, divided almost evenly between Roman Catholic and Protestant. In the coastal regions of Mahajanga and Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Muslims constitute 7% of the population (divided between those of Malagasy ethnicity, Indo-Pakistanis, and Comorans) and approximately 52% of the population follow indigenous beliefs.

Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries and there is significant malnutrition, even among the children of the richest 20% of the population; according to the UNDP 2006 Human Development Report, 61% live on less than $1 per day and 85% live on less than $2 a day. Madagascar has a population of 20 million (CIA, July 2008) with an average projected growth rate of 2.6 percent between 2005 and 2010. Fertility rates are high at 5.04 children per woman, and about 45 percent of the population is less than 15 years old.

The International Labor Organization's (ILO) 2007 National Survey on Child Labor in Madagascar indicated that approximately 28% of the child population, between ages of 5 and 17 (1.8 million children), were working on a full- or part-time basis. Further about 438,000 children were involved in dangerous work. Although Madagascar’s law prohibits trafficking in persons, cases continue to be reported, involving children and young women. They come mainly from rural areas. They are trafficked for sexual exploitation and forced labor, including domestic servitude, mining, and street vending.

A high percentage of the population lacks access to basic healthcare and the services of professional medical personnel. Currently only 29% of the population has access to clean drinking water, however, considerable resources are being invested by the international community to address this and improve the water and sanitation systems. (UN Central Emergency Response Fund)

Southern Madagascar has suffered severe drought for three consecutive years. This, as well as very poor harvests have taken its toll on families. Thousands of people are suffering hunger and starvation. There is a high incidence of chronic malnutrition resulting from the lack of food supplies. Madagascar is in desperate need of relief assistance both in kind and financially. Madagascar has a history of natural disasters, particularly along the eastern coast, with cyclones, resulting in extensive long-term damage. Madagascar also needs further assistance in disaster prevention.

Good Shepherd Sisters in Isles District (Madagascar, Reunion & Mauritius)

The Good Shepherd Sisters - Isles District is comprised of Reunion, Mauritius and Madagascar. Reunion was found in 1970, and because of the immense needs of the people, the Sisters opened in Mauritius in 1977 and Madagascar in 1979.

Madagascar

Since 1979, the Sisters in Madagascar have been involved in many development projects for marginalized women and girls. At present, there are three Good Shepherd communities in Madagascar: Itaosy, Morondava and Sandranhady. The ministries include:

· Women: Welcome Homes for women in difficult situations, a Work Centre for embroidery and other small income generating projects;

· Youth: Work of prevention such as accompanying groups of young people thru the “Young friends of the Good Shepherd”, “Hope for the Children” and the Pelletier Home for young girls in difficulty, and teaching home economics in the secondary school;

· Children: Sponsorship, literacy programs, remedial classes, nutritional programs/ school meals;

· Pastoral animation: Youth ministry, preparation for the sacraments, catechism;

· Health: Dispensary in Sandrandahy;

· Prison: Prison chaplaincy and a meal once a week for the women and the minors;

· Linkages and partnership with NGOs, church groups and institutions.

Foyer Akany Soanandrasana:

In Itaosy, the Sisters run Foyer Akany Soanandrasana, a shelter for pregnant single mothers in crisis situation. The Home is situated in Antsavatsava, Itaosy, about four kms away from the city of Antananarivo. It can accommodate 12 - 14 women including their babies. While the Home provides a safe space and shelter, counseling and life skills education and training are also offered to the women to empower them when they leave the Home. Since its inauguration in 1994, the Home has served more than 400 women. From the beginning of the ministry in Itaosy, Antananarivo the Sisters had the opportunity to meet many dramatic cases of girls and women pregnant and in great difficulty either because of the abandonment of their partner or their family. For several girls, the solution was prostitution or abortion. Some of them had contracted infectious diseases, Aids, etc. for which they were not able to seek medical help due to their poverty and some of them even died prematurely.

Most of these girls are from far off villages and go to the city of Antananarivo to earn their living as domestic workers. Their families in the villages expect them to earn enough to support themselves and also to send money to support the family. In many instances, these girls became pregnant and they lost their work, their shelter and their partner. Many of them can not go back home easily and to return to their village would be a shame on the family. Remaining in the city put their lives and the lives of their infants in danger. Some of them even commit suicide when they find themselves in such a situation. These problems have challenged the Sisters and made them decide to build a home to welcome these girls in crisis.

In 2010, this shelter program was supported by MDO. With the help of MDO, the shelter was able to get funds from MIVA Netherlands for a car transport that is needed to homevisit the girls' homes, for medical check-up and for the income generation project.

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Madagascar