In Madagascar, the Vincentian Family has been running for some 20 years now, encouraged by Congregation of the Mission from the start. All branches meet 4 times per year, and at the moment are striving to concretize at all levels, Father Gregory Gay’s words last May, during his pastoral visit: “it is necessary and imperative that all branches of the Vincentian Family collaborate for a better service to those living in poverty”.

Let me share here a fruit of collaboration in Madagascar. Thanks to the initial convergence of efforts of the Bishop, the Vincentian priests, and AIC volunteers, and in close collaboration with the community, together we were able to elaborate a vast literacy program for children and adults, mainly girls and women, in isolated and poor rural communities in South East Madagascar, in the Farafangana Diocese.

Thanks to this collaboration, and later that of UNICEF, Asmae, Caritas, Croix du Sud Belgium, the Amis de l’AIC Madagascar from Germany, AIC Italy, and private donations from Belgium, this project entitled « Tsiry », « seed » in Malagasy, has trained 20 young adult trainers, and alphabetize 1199 unschooled children, and 2652 illiterate adults (mainly women) in 18 villages which had no access to formal education.

This past August, the 8th batch of participants was installed; that is to say 385 adults and 245 children more that engage in the path of sustainable development through education.