PROJECT-SUPPORT MADAGASCAR

Country / Location

Madagascar, Fihaonana

Madagascar has around 32 million inhabitants (as of 2024) and, with an area of 588’000 square kilometres, is the world’s second-largest island nation. The country lies about 420 kilometres off the east coast of Mozambique in the Indian Ocean and is therefore considered part of East Africa. From a geoecological perspective, Madagascar is one of the “ancient islands” of the Earth’s history, home to an exceptionally high number of endemic species, genera and families of plants and animals that exist nowhere else in the world.

Antananarivo is the capital and, with 1.3 million inhabitants, by far the largest city in the country. It serves as the geographical, administrative, and industrial centre of Madagascar.

The project location is the village community of Fihaonana, situated 50 km north of the capital Antananarivo.

General Information

The Association Kafeala is a Madagascan-Swiss non-profit organisation dedicated to nature conservation and development. With great commitment, it supports the village community of Fihaonana and the district of Ankazobe in Madagascar. It runs two main projects: “Fianarana” and “Kafeala Forest”.

“Fianarana” is a community development project that helps reduce poverty among young people and young adults in Fihaonana.

“Kafeala Forest” is a conservation project aimed at the long-term, self-sustaining restoration of native forests in Madagascar’s central highlands.

Beneficiaries

Up to 100 pupils graduate from the secondary school in Fihaonana each year. However, almost none of them can afford further education or pursue a professional career. Social advancement thus remains out of reach.

The Fianarana Project builds on the local secondary school diploma and enables disadvantaged young adults to pursue university studies, including support during their transition into employment. This helps reduce poverty among young adults. The central objective at the target group level is that 90% of the students successfully complete their studies within the regular time limit and, within six months of graduation, take up a qualified profession that enables them to live above the poverty line.

Beyond the direct beneficiaries, parents, siblings and especially the students’ future children also benefit from the project. The families of the beneficiaries therefore form the indirect target group.

Project-Support

Project: Fianarana 2024–2028

The Fianarana Project enables motivated young people to pursue university studies. The association covers all study and living costs for the bachelor’s degree. Throughout the entire support period, beneficiaries receive guidance from a social worker and a mentor, and they are provided with food from the organisation’s own farm.

Preparatory YearBefore starting their studies, participants complete a preparatory year in Fihaonana, which takes place during the day.

University Studies
The three-year bachelor’s programme takes place at renowned universities in the capital, Antananarivo.

Career Entry
After around four years of support, the beneficiaries take up qualified employment.

In the 2022–2025 project cycle, Fianarana helped six young people obtain a bachelor’s degree, four achieve a secondary school qualification, and three complete their high school diploma. The same cycle currently supports 11 Bachelor students and 2 interns. The 2024–2028 cycle includes 32 beneficiaries — 30 bachelor’s and 2 master’s students.