ZAHATRA

With the help of two former volunteers I’ve just submitted a funding proposal to build a community center for a local non-profit named Zahatra ZAHATRA (pronounced zah-ha-tra). Below is some information about this non-profit that was included in the project proposal(written in collaboration with Corey Pargee).

ZAHATRA is a local non-governmental organization operating in a small village outside my town. ZAHATRA means “raft” in Malagasy. The mission of this organization is to protect and ensure the human right to life, education and to earn a living and protect the rights of children and reduce the instances of child labor. With support from local government and churches, ZAHATRA’s dedicated Malagasy volunteers provide food to vulnerable children and offer vocational training and social support to their families. Thanks to the generosity and devotion of the organization’s founder and director; Henry RABESALAMA; over 20 children are currently fed in Henry’s own home. However, there more children are in need and a center would allow the non-profit to serve more kids and increase vocational trainings they provide. I’ve visited a couple times to teach health lessons about hand washing and eating healthy foods.

My region is called the rice basket of Madagascar. Rice farming is seasonal work and families that do not own land must often send their entire family, including children, to work in the fields. The non-profit believe that in a region known for rice production, no child should go hungry or be deprived of an education because they must work to feed themselves. Undernourished children have weak immune systems and are very susceptible to disease; their health is always precarious and when they become sick, it isless likely that they wll recover. Malnutrition is the underlying cause of over ½ the deaths of children under 5 in Madagascar.

We are hoping that with this new center the non-profit will be able to secure more resources from community partners in an effort to serve more children and their families. I will post an update once the proposal is reviewed and is online to receive donations. Thanks in advance of your support of this project!