Our Story

Claudéa and Katie worked together at The American School of Antananarivo from 2020 until 2024. It was during a school day in the beginning of 2021 that Katie went to Claudéa and said: "I have a crazy idea..."

Being an expat, Katie was often in disbelief by what she saw on the way to and from school each day: families sifting through dumpsters, mothers doing laundry in rain puddles, and small children running in traffic asking people in cars for food and money. Giving a bit of money seemed like a useless cause - something sustainable needed to be done to truly help these families.

Being a native of Madagascar, Claudéa understood firsthand what it meant to grow up without electricity and running water. Claudéa knew that education meant a different future.

One afternoon, Katie and Claudéa decided to go for walk to engage with a struggling family to learn their story and how they ended up begging on the street rather than pursuing education and work. They visited their home, enrolled the kids in school and then Claudéa began the process of teaching the mother skills needed for kickstarting a small business selling fruits and vegetables. Soon they were sharing their first success story with other teachers who then wanted to help other families. At this point, LiftUp Mada began...

Their mission is clear: they identify families facing adversity on the streets, Claudéa delves into their stories, shares insights with Katie, and together they devise plans to lift these families out of poverty, facilitating a transition to stable living conditions where everyone can flourish. This initiative embodies their commitment to catalyzing positive change and providing sustainable support to those in need.