Education
Keep the school running
The schools of Madagascar are not fully functional. Because of their low salaries, teachers' attendance is low. Private schools are either nonexistent or not affordable to the vast majority of the population.
The school campus in Antintorona, built in partnership with an NGO, is crucial for the development of the island. The campus includes a kindergarten, a primary school and the only secondary school of the island. It hosts about 400 kids and it is autonomously managed by a pedagogic team of 11 full-time and three part-time local teachers very committed to provide the highest education standards to their pupils. There has been a growing contribution from local businesses to the school budget in the past few years. Nonetheless, the school still needs external financial support.
Sunshine in Nosy Komba has a key role in the local education programme with several initiatives and projects. Our aim is to establish a school that creates opportunities to the whole population of Nosy Komba.
Since 2013, through yearly fundraising events, such as a football tournament in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, Sunshine in Nosy Komba is the main contributor to keep all the school teachers and other staff working. Our contributions cover the expenses of the canteen, the dormitories and the cost of didactic materials.
Since 2017, the kindergarten remains open also during the holiday periods to keep children in a stimulating environment and promote the study of the French language.
How we contribute:
PAY TEACHERS' SALARIES
NIGHT CLASSES FOR ADULTS
Rise and Shine Scholarship
After completion of secondary school, students need to have perspectives for their future. This is essential to promote education as a valuable investment for the children and their families. Since no high school or university exists on the island and families cannot afford accommodations and transport to other locations, along with the school fees, most of the kids will not continue their education.
Since 2015, the best students in secondary school receive a scholarship to attend high school every year and will eventually go to university if they keep having good results. The high school is located in the neighbouring island of Nosy Be. Besides the school costs, the scholarships cover transport, food and accommodation expenses.
The secondary school director coordinates the programme and reports regularly on the progress of the students. In addition, these students can become part of their village’s education and sustainable development programmes. They are offered opportunities to participate in other projects, such as the media library, school maintenance or support to local companies to gain professional experience and to support the younger kids’ education.
The students’ academic performance keeps improving every year. This proves that, when given the chance, these kids will thrive and succeed in life.
How we contribute:
2022 GRADUATES
2023 GRADUATES
2024 GRADUATES
Media library
Given the scarcity of didactic materials, classes in Madagascar often involve students copying from the blackboard French texts that most of them do not master completely. In Nosy Komba there was nowhere where children and teenagers could study, read or play outside of school hours. This had a significant impact in their development and performance – their learning progress would drop significantly during school holidays.
In 2013, we opened a library equipped with media resources and an increased number of activities. There are now spaces with new equipment to satisfy the different needs of children from different ages. The children have access to around one thousand books, dozens of didactic DVD’s and games, scientific experiments and ten small laptops. This equipment is used both during lessons and after school.
We created a sports club that turned the media library project into a “school outside of the school.” There is sports equipment available to play volleyball, basketball, badminton and table tennis.
Teachers of the secondary school manage the media library and the sports club with assistance from students receiving a “Rise & Shine” scholarship.
How we contribute:
THEMATIC WEEKENDS
GAMES FOR EVERY AGE
BOOKS FOR ALL LEVELS
School campus
The School Campus in Antintorona is crucial for the development of the whole island. Over the years, joint efforts from NGOs working in Antintotona have helped build a kindergarten, a primary school, a secondary school, two dorms and a canteen. The Campus has been growing and it hosts an increasing number of children and teenagers each year. There is a need to expand it and, at the same time, to improve and maintain the existing facilities.
Sunshine in Nosy Komba has taken a very active role in the improvement of the education infrastructure, carrying out several projects since 2011. The aim of these projects is to develop a school campus that guarantees students a complete education, stimulating sports and cultural activities, proper meals and a clean environment.
How we contribute:
SPORT FIELDS AND EQUIPMENT
NEW SCHOOL BUILDING
NEW SCHOOL DORMITORY
"Beyond" school project
LOCAL SCHOOLBOOK PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION INITIATIVE
For many years, teachers in Nosy Komba had very few schoolbooks and copied lessons on the blackboard. In 2020, during the pandemic, they asked for help to print their own exercise books using a local cybercafé.
This idea grew into a project to produce and share school books locally. In 2022, a first test was done with French books, and in 2023 the project expanded with English and more French books for nearby schools. The project was well received by students, parents, and education officials.
How we contribute:
LOCALLY PRINTED SCHOOLBOOKS
SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS
