Project "Fo Mitambatra" (Year 2)

Ambatomitsangana, Sabotsy Anjiro (May 2015)

This past May, I returned to Madagascar to visit my kids, Malagasy family, and old neighborhood one last time before moving to New York to begin grad school. One of the first things I noticed walking around Ambatomitsangana, my old neighborhood, was how quiet it had become during my absence - almost eerily so. When I asked Zaka, my old neighbor and neighborhood leader, why that was he told me, "it's very quiet here now because you put all the kids in school!"

Rosette and her future Fo Mitambatra Scholar (Ambatomitsangana, May 2015)

Tonga Soa (Welcome)!

Welcome to Fo Mitambatra's second year of an ongoing ten-year fundraising project which provides scholarships (elementary to secondary school levels) for disadvantaged children from the rural community of Sabotsy Anjiro in Madagascar.

Last year's fundraiser was a tremendous success! Twenty-two students, from one local neighborhood in Sabotsy Anjiro, were placed into two local, private schools. This year, the project has expanded to include over 100 students, from five local neighborhoods in Sabotsy Anjiro, to be placed into four local schools, public and private.

This year, our fundraising goal, which includes safety funds for next year, is $4,000 by September 15th. Every contribution, big or small, will be directly applied  to securing tuition for over 100 students who live in Sabotsy Anjiro. You can also contact me directly to become a sponsor where you will be matched with a specific student from the village, provided an opportunity to become pen pals, and given access to their report cards each trimester.

"Masera" and her T-5 class at College Ste. Chantal Sabotsy Anjiro, this class contains two Fo Mitambatra students who passed their exit exam, the CEPE. Congratulations!  (May 2015)

The Future

La Baleine Hotel, Ile Ste Marie (May 2015)

My vision is to bridge poor Malagasy families from Sabotsy Anjiro to financial resources overseas that they otherwise would never find on their own to pay for their children to go to school. The low annual opportunity cost of soliciting donations from friends and family through crowdfunding is outweighed by the immeasurable benefits of knowing that we will have provided over 100 scholarships over a period of ten years to Malagasy students who struggle daily to feed themselves. I am convinced that the only way out of acute poverty and human suffering for the poor is through access to long-term, sustained education. This is why I am committed to administering the project for ten years no matter where I am in the world or in life. I hope you will support me as well.


Students at the FJKM Private Protestant School perform their "4eme" dance routine (May 2015)

The Impact

I am hoping that your donations will transform 100 lives for the better after a period of ten years. The inexpensive, targeted project will create a three-fold positive scenario in one of the most remote, isolated places in the world:

1.  Local faculty of the participating schools will receive extra compensation through additional enrollment

2.  Students will be engaged in school, learning new life skills

3. Parents will have opportunities to save, perhaps for the development of income generating activities

I will be revisiting the  families of the students on an annual basis to conduct informal follow-ups of how their lives have been positively (or negatively) affected by the project.


1. How are you using the money?

Your donations are used to secure:

1. One-year scholarships at each of the four participating schools in Sabotsy Anjiro (~$40-$70)

2. GoFundMe fees (7.9% + $.30 from each donation)

3. Wire transfer/International money transfer fees/International withdrawal fees (~$40)

4. Bush taxi travel to Moramanga (where bank is located)

Your donations are not used to:

1. Pay for overhead fees: internet, phone calls (in Madagascar)

2. Provide a salary: the project is completely run by trustworthy, local volunteers

Click here to review finances from the 2014-2015 Academic Year

2. Tell me about the schools?

Local leaders: The headmistress of the FJKM Private Protestant school and a physics teacher hand out thank you gifts to parents during an event. (May 2015)

The participating local schools this year include: College Ste. Chantal Sabotsy Anjiro, College Prive FJKM, CFP Sabotsy Anjiro, and Lycee Mixte Sabotsy Anjiro.
The principals of the local schools are on board with the project. They will sign written contracts confirming the scholarship award and the student's enrollment.

3. When does school in Madagascar start?

October! My goal is to fund the students by September so the families have a month to know if their child will be enrolling so they can save money and buy school supplies.

4. Is my donation tax-deductible?

Your donation will be treated as a personal gift and will not be tax deductible. Unfortunately, I am just one person who wants to raise cash to put real Malagasy kids in school. I'm not associated with any charity, though if you know of any that has non-profit status that would like to help, please let me know!

5. What field work is required? How are you doing this from America?

Field work required for successful completion of the project each  year includes:

1. Identifying candidates for the scholarship
2. Collecting and recording candidate information
3. Communicating expectations with the parents of each candidate
4. Collaborating with local schools - negotiating tuition, student/family follow-ups
5. Scholarship finance, accounting, budgeting, and reporting
6. Monitoring and communicating student progress
7. Relationship building with teachers
8. Following year fundraising assessments
9. Sponsor communications - translating, reporting, and pen pal program (letters and videos)

The beautiful thing about the project is that it is completely community driven via local volunteers. In fact, the program is run by two local orphaned students whom I had the honor of working with during my Peace Corps service who are paying it forward for their home communities.


Tendry, one of the local volunteers who run this program on the ground in Madagascar. He will be taking the secondary school exit exam (math and science) in a couple weeks. He lost his mother a little less than ten years ago, but has finished consistently in the Top 10 of his high school class every year. Good luck Tendry! Thank you from all of us (Anjiro, May 2015)

6. Where did the name, "Fo Mitambatra" come from?

Back in 2014, on our final "family vacation", the local village kids whom I helped during my service scribbled the words, "Fo Mitambatra" ("Hearts Combined") into the  beautiful white sand on Andilana beach on Nosy Be. At the time, we did not know when our lives would cross paths again. The namesake of this project is my pride as these kids, themselves recipients of scholarships back in 2012, are now championing this program to pay it forward for other less fortunate kids.

7. How do we know that this is a well run project?

You are depending on the trust I have already established with the schools and my instincts regarding the contacts I have already established in the community. This project will continue as long as my gut tells me it is possible. You, the donor, are placing your faith in me, your faith in the contacts I have made, and your faith in the trust I have built with the  participating schools in the community. I like to believe that the strong relationship that I have established with the village is why this project was wildly successful last year and why it will continue to be so for the remaining 8 years.

8. What is the point of providing scholarships to students who fail?

Although it is always nice to work with all-star students, those of whom are so driven and talented that they succeed at all costs, this program was designed with those who have not been as fortunate in mind - those who can barely afford school and lack parental guidance, direction, and nurturing. Unfortunately, there were a couple students who received scholarships last year and did not pass. After lengthy discussions with their teachers, it was discovered that these special case students' home lives were too unstable for proper cognitive functioning in school. In some situations, children like these may find that the classroom is their only refuge and sanctuary from a difficult life and that focusing on schoolwork is challenging. I have chosen to enthusiastically continue fundraising for them.


Overlooking Anjiro market (May 2015)

9. You left Madagascar over a year ago. Why are you still doing this?

There are some things you see and experience that change your life forever. Madagascar left its mark on my life in ways I can't quite describe. I am honoring my time and the people who touched my life with this project.

10. Will this project work?

It worked last year and has expanded this second year. To echo what I said last year, I think so. It's inexpensive, low maintenance, and has potential to do a lot of good. In fact, I was initially skeptical of growing the scope of project but the community diligently asked me to expand for their sake. They are driving it to expand.


Fo Mitambatra scholars at play (Ambatomitsangana, May 2015)


Niaretana, Fo Mitambatra scholar 2014-2015. Congratulations on passing last year, Niaretana!
(Ambatomitsangana, May 2015)


11. I want to sponsor a child! Anything I should consider?

Let me know by email and I will match you with a candidate. You are pledging to support one student for a period of time completely up to your discretion. The student may be entirely or almost entirely dependent on the funds you donate to advance through school.

Although this is a grassroots project among friends and we are not dealing with contracts and written agreements, I urge you to consider the daily realities of the students you are sponsoring. Please understand that the financial hardship and inability to plan for the future for some of these families in Madagascar is acute in a way that is difficult for some of us to conceptualize.

You will be providing free education to some of the most vulnerable, marginalized youth of this world. If you prefer to assess whether a donation is right for you on a yearly basis, feel free to return each year with a one-time general donation. For those choosing to become sponsors, with access to the child's report card, please ask yourself if you will be willing to approach what you perceive of the student's academic performance with an open heart.

Above all, your generosity will be respected and treated as strictly voluntary. If you choose to discontinue your sponsorship, upon receipt of notification, you will be immediately and confidentially opted out of all future solicitations.


Anjiro (May 2015)

11. I can't donate, but I still want to help.

That's ok. You read the whole thing and I appreciate that! Please share with your friends!