Poverty continues to challenge Malagasy youth, limiting access to education, health and nutrition services across the country’s rural regions. According to the World Food Programme, in Madagascar, more than 80% of the population lives on less than $2.15 per day, with 38.6% of children suffering from chronic malnutrition. A World Bank learning-poverty brief, using data available as of 2021, estimated that about 94% of children in Madagascar were not proficient in reading by late primary-school age. It also reported that primary education expenditure per child was 77.8% below the Sub-Saharan Africa regional average.

Amid these challenges, a number of organizations are stepping in to close the gaps in education, nutrition and child protection. Below are five charities operating in Madagascar that aim to fight poverty and enhance the quality of life for youths.

Charities Operating in Madagascar

• ADRA Madagascar: ADRA Madagascar is a non-governmental organization that works to provide every Malagasy child the opportunity to learn and supports sustainable development across the country. ADRA Madagascar has three core aims: expanding access to education through improved infrastructure, increasing school attendance through financial support and enhancing education quality by strengthening teaching capacity. In addition to improved education, ADRA Madagascar also works to improve access to water, particularly in areas closely located to educational facilities. Since 2020, ADRA Madagascar reports that its programs have supported more than 1 million Malagasy people.
• Learn Achieve Become: Learn Achieve Become (L.A.B.) is a U.K.-based charity dedicated to improving the quality of life for those living in disadvantaged communities by expanding access to quality education and sports. L.A.B.’s main activities involve organizing temporary educational programs, partnering with local schools and hosting sporting clubs and events. In 2023, L.A.B. opened its first educational and support center for people with disabilities in Madagascar, with goals to open more across the island. The organization reports that its centers provide free education to roughly 200 students per week, ensuring disadvantaged youth have access to basic learning opportunities.
• Save the Children Madagascar: Save the Children is a global organization that aims to end child violence, expand access to basic education and prevent diseases affecting children. Its presence in Madagascar began in 2016 and, in conjunction with a wide range of donors, it has implemented programs combatting health, education, food security and child protection-related challenges. These programs are essential given Madagascar’s strained healthcare and education systems, as well as widespread food insecurity. In 2025, Save the Children Madagascar reported that 12,084 children were reached through its various programs.
• Skyline NGO Madagascar: Skyline NGO Madagascar is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization, aiming to eradicate poverty and develop vulnerable communities within Madagascar. Skyline Madagascar runs a number of community-driven activities and programs that seek to address the needs of the Malagasy population. These include distributing medical supplies, establishing public libraries that provide educational books, running youth sports programs and partnering with the Phoenix Light Project to expand renewable energy methods and reforestation. Since 2020, Skyline Madagascar reports that its programs have reached more than 300,000 people across 23 regions in Madagascar.
• Un Enfant par la Main Madagascar: Un Enfant par la Main is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that works with local communities to ensure the rights of all children are upheld. Un Enfant par la Main places an emphasis on working with communities, rather than working in their place, with a focus on co-constructing solutions and implementing sustainable change that can be maintained by the community. In Madagascar, the organization has implemented two long-term projects in vulnerable regions that aim to provide a comprehensive response to the needs of the children. Un Enfant par la Main reports that nearly 6,500 children and families receive support each month.

Final Thoughts

Madagascar continues to face poverty-related challenges, with many children still facing a lack of education and limited access to food and water. However, these five charities operating in Madagascar provide hope for the future of the island nation, particularly given the strong focus on upholding the rights of all children. Together, these organizations demonstrate how community-driven programs can drive meaningful change for Malagasy youth.

– Xavier Stephens

Xavier is based in Melbourne, Australia, and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr