When I hear Madagascar, I think of silly movies, lemurs and hissing cockroaches.
My sons actually have quite a fascination with the island country due to its unique wildlife, much of which is endemic to the region. My youngest could point out Madagascar on a world map when he was three.
I’ll be honest when I say I’ve never thought much about the people who actually live on the island of Madagascar. Or the kids.
Where there are communities of people, there are kids who go to school. Madagascar is no different.
The problem in Madagascar is that toilets and access to water taps are severely lacking. Unfortunately, 13,000 children under five die due to water-related diseases in Madagascar. (Source: Wateraid)
In Madagascar, 79% of schools don’t have clean water, and 41% of schools don’t even have a toilet.
Can you imagine having to go to the bathroom out in the open as a school kid?
Wateraid is doing something pretty amazing this summer for the kids of Madagascar, and we can all be involved. They have launched a campaign to help build the futures of kids in Madagascar. Their aim is to reach 12,000 kids in 31 schools with 100 toilets and 150 taps.
Watch the video to find out more about this initiative.
http://youtu.be/E4VpcSEPYGg
You can start making an impact by retweeting the following:
Be part of a unique project transforming the lives of Madagascar’s young students http://t.co/YrQ03G1Yht #buildfutures
— Jennifer Barbour (@anotherjenb) June 28, 2013
Or visit Wateraid’s Let’s build futures page and follow along. They’ll be posting real time updates on their progress, and we’ll even get to hear from the students themselves. Students like Perlette, who wants to be a doctor, or Jean Noel, who dreams of becoming a teacher.
Of course, a donation is always helpful.
Will you help Wateraid build futures in Madagascar?
More posts on Wateraid and their work:
- Philanthropy Friday: Water is just the beginning
- My Giving Pledge: February 2013 Donation
- WaterAid: Helping Children Through Access to Clean Water and Sanitation
I wrote this post as part of the Global Team of 200, a highly specialized group of Mom Bloggers for Social Good members who focus on maternal health, children, hunger, and women and girls.
