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Struggling in Madagascar: Fund a Vehicle for Eddy's Success

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In 2016 my wife and I had the good fortune to be able to travel to Madagascar. We traveled there for three weeks spending a great deal of time with our driver Eddy. Passing through his home city Antananarivo we stopped and met his wife, Rina, and their children at a church service where we were warmly welcomed. Over the past 8 years, through the magic of social media, we have become very close, watching their children grow, and sharing their struggles in and since 2020 as the pandemic shut down all tourism in Madagascar leaving Eddy and his wife struggling for work to provide food and housing for their young family. Now, with tourism starting to slowly recover Eddy is working toward more stable work and has started his own tour company. In September of this year (2024) my wife and I found ourselves back in Madagascar. We traveled with Eddy from the south of Madagascar to his home in Antananarivo over 10 days. His greatest tour expense was the rental of the car we traveled in. Eddy expressed his wish to expand his business and have more regular work by owning a car of his own for travel with visitors through his amazing, and often troubled country.

According to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2024 Madagascar is one of the world’s least developed countries ranking 177th out of 193 countries with an annual gross national income per capita of 517 US dollars and more than three quarters of the country living in extreme poverty. Although the degree of poverty various from region to region (the south being most affected) few in Madagascar have an easy life. Eddy and his family are no different, with hopes and dreams far outstripping their possible paths to reach them. We hope this Go Fund Me effort will provide Eddy with the funds he needs to acquire a safe and dependable vehicle so that he can provide for his family and move his children closer to their life aspirations.

Directly from Eddy:

My name is Eddy, I’m married and I have 3 boys. I’m a tour driver in Madagascar. I’ve been working in the tourism for several years, sharing the beauty, culture, and wonders of this incredible island with travelers from all over the world. However, I currently don't own a vehicle, which limits my ability to support my family and grow my business.
I'm reaching out to ask for your help to make my dream of owning a car come true. With a vehicle of my own, I’ll be able to offer safe and reliable transportation to tourists, allowing me to expand my services, reach more visitors, and provide a stable income for my family.
How Your Support Will Make a Difference
With the funds from this campaign, I will:
• Purchase a reliable car for tourism, essential for providing quality transportation to travelers.
• Offer better, more flexible services to my clients, who wish to explore Madagascar’s unique wildlife, landscapes and culture.
• Gain the stability and independence to grow my business
• Support my family in meeting our daily needs, from school fees to healthcare.

Join Me in Sharing Madagascar’s Beauty with the World
Your contribution, big or small, will have a lasting impact, not only helping me support my family but also boosting local tourism and introducing more people to Madagascar’s incredible natural and cultural heritage. Thank you so much for considering this campaign and for any support you can offer. Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you in Madagascar someday!

Please remember that we are not an IRS-registered non-profit, so donations are considered a gift and are not tax deductible.
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Donations 

  • Carol Reinert
    • $25 (Offline)
    • 1 mo
  • Jeffrey Oelklaus
    • $200
    • 1 mo
  • William Haig
    • $100
    • 2 mos
  • Gerardo Pierro
    • $150
    • 2 mos
  • Ian Wigle
    • $100
    • 2 mos
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Organizer

Douglas Schrepel
Organizer
Colorado Springs, CO

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