Philanthropy

Philanthropy is the effort or inclination to increase the well-being of humankind, as by charitable aid or donations.

Tsasasaotra School in Madagascar

After a short visit to Madagascar in October 2008 a member of staff from IDC returned with pictures and stories of poverty and hardship from one of the world's poorest countries that were impossible to ignore. Touched by the stories, IDC decided to help and found a charity, the Madagascar Development Fund run by the Ex British Ambassador to Madagascar, that put us in touch with a small village called Tsasasaotra north east of the capital, Antananarivo. The villagers had started to build a two classroom extension for the local school three years earlier but had run out of money shortly after the foundation stones had been laid and had no hope of completion without outside help.

Foundation stones laid at Tsasasaotra School.

IDC sent money, through the Charity, for all the materials needed to complete the classrooms and in December 2008 building work was resumed by the villagers. The project was co-ordinated by MDF in Madagascar and was visited regularly by the charity staff during the six weeks of construction. In addition to the two classrooms, 30 new benches and desks were provided, a fresh drinking water supply was installed in the playground along with toilets and a teacher’s house.

The existing school in the village was for 300 primary school children in 3 mud brick classrooms shared by differing ages and abilities all taught together. Now with the new classrooms the children can be split by age or ability and taught in single smaller groups.

The children at Tsasasaotra in their old school building.

The classrooms were opened for use in February 2009 and a member of staff from IDC was due to inaugurate them in April 2009 but due to a political upheaval, and advice from the Home Office not to travel to Madagascar, the inauguration was postponed until April 2010.

The Inauguration

On the morning of April 11th 2010 the whole village turned out for the inauguration, the children all put on their best clothes, three Madagascar newspapers and Madagascar TV were there along with the Mayor of the region, other local dignitaries and a representative from the Ministry of National Education.

All the villagers and school children at the inauguration ceremony.

 

The ceremony started with the National Anthem followed by traditional Malagasy dancing by the school children and then speeches that lasted almost two hours.

Traditional Mulagassy dancing by the school children.

Then it was time for IDC to say a few words. Spoken in English and translated into Malagasy, by the woman form the charity, we praised the villagers for the good workmanship, thanked them for the warm welcome they had given us and asked them to look after the school, maintain it and we would return in a year or two to see how they had all got on. This was followed by cutting the ribbon to officially open the school and a guided tour.

Cutting the ribbon at the inauguration ceremony at Tsasasaotra School.

Exterior view of the new school.

A new classroom at Tsasasaotra school.

Children at the water supply in the playground.

As thanks to IDC the villagers had laid on a lunch of traditional Malagasy food consisting of a stew made from chicken, pork and zebu with rice all of which were locally reared or grown. As we left the village to return to Antananarivo the villagers gathered to wave goodbye, clapping and singing as we drove off in a convoy of journalists, cameramen, and officials in 4x4 cars.

 

Other charities that we have recently supported.

• The Florence Nightingale Hospice in Stoke Mandeville. IDC have bought three new items of equipment to assist in  pain relief.
  
  
• Cancerdogs. IDC have sponsored this local charity for a puppy to train to detect cancer and diabetes in humans.
  
  
• Blackberry Farm RSPCA centre. IDC have bought a much needed additional chicken Ark.
  
  
• St John's Hospice. A donation to help provide support for terminally ill patients.
  
  
• University College Hospital. A donation to provide support and treatment to cancer patients.
  
  
• Oxford Radcliffe Hospital. A donation to provide support and treatment to cancer patients.