Through LiftUp Mada, Mariana was given the opportunity to learn a new skill: hair braiding. She used the funds to pay for training and buy the supplies she needed to get started.

“The financial support I received helped me to fund my small hair braiding business. I’ve moved from being a passive participant in my life to someone who always seeks the best for their life every day. Now, I always have a need to go out and take a more serious responsibility for my life and make things better for myself.” -Mariana

We first discovered Sahondra on the street nearly nine months pregnant with other children in tow. Providing Sahondra and the children with four walls and a roof was the first of many goals.

“As a beggar, paying for a rent was quasi-impossible, and we’ve been expelled from our house several times. Consequently, I have always dreamed of having a house where I would not be expelled. My focus now is to start a small business of my own, a stable source of income that will prevent me from going back to the street again." - Sahondra

Hanta was our first receiver to start her own business selling home goods and toys on a cart so she can easily transport her shop if needed.

“I am so thankful for the support I received because from the time I’ve started to work, I feel like I’ve gained more worth and I’ve been valued more in the community. Thanks to my small business, I can provide food for my family now, and even during this holiday, I was able to buy new clothes for my children, which is something I have not been able to do for as I long as I can remember. And as a former beggar who was able to go back to a normal life, my hope is that my life will continue to improve and that I will never go back to the street again.” -Hanta

Vero was our first recipient; she was recognized by one of our founders near a dumpster with her four children every day, begging. Her determination is what paved the way for everyone else who benefits from LiftUp Mada. Vero is the one who made us say: "This is possible."

"Unlike before, I feel like I have become more fulfilled now. I really had hard times satisfying the basic needs of my family before: failing to feed my children and getting expelled from the house I rented from time to time. Nowadays, with the small business that I am running and the financial support every month, I am less anxious about life and have become more positive because I can make some money every day. My biggest dream is that my children will have a better future, a future away from the dumpster, and a future that will allow them to be both independent and successful." -Vero

Georgia's four children are now able to go to school because of a donor through LiftUp Mada.

“The stability of my life and the education of my four children are something I am very grateful for. Now that my children’s school fees are regularly paid every month and that they are eating properly, they can focus on their studies and have been doing better at school while I can focus on my job of making raffia hats. My hope is to be able to expand my job into a more profitable business.” -Georgia

Marie was able to provide food and housing for her children, but school was out of reach.

“We were never able to actually financially support our children’s education even when my husband was still alive; there was always something missing, but the aid has been a game changer for us. This aid has allowed my three daughters to go to a private school where they can get a better education and successfully study with all the supplies they need, and I am forever grateful for that." -Marie

Why can't kids just go to school?

Going to a government funded school or "public school" as we call it in the U.S. is a bit different in Madagascar. In the United States, public schools have social services ready and equipped to help families in poverty. In Madagascar, families are expected to buy uniforms, supplies, on top of paying for registration and monthly fees which can be a third of a family's wages for the month or even more. The reality is most people in Madagascar do not have running water or electricity and so daily survival becomes more important than going to school.