the big idea
Spotlight Madagascar is a 501(c)(3)-pending nonprofit organization based in North Carolina. We work with Malagasy communities in order to help them gain the skills and knowledge to take ownership in the development of their own country by creating self-sufficient Associations. Spotlight will fund these Malagasy entities, help run them and staff them until the time comes when we’re not needed any longer; our goal is to become redundant. Once the Association and its projects are running full speed ahead, we’ll use specific selection criteria to decide which town to start on next.
Why Spotlight? Why now?
Madagascar is a unique island where 80-85% of all species, both flora and fauna, are endemic. Understandably, 55% of tourists come to Madagascar to explore its unique biodiversity. However, less than 10% of these tourists originate from English speaking countries. These statistics highlight a likely correlation between the low numbers of Anglophone tourists and the widespread lack of fluency in English in Madagascar.
Spotlight Madagascar is focused on community development and English education in Madagascar. Our Malagasy Association will first establish a Community Cultural center in Tamatave. We hope to facilitate cross-cultural understanding through an exchange of Malagasy and Betsimisaraka traditions and those of Anglophone countries. English conversation courses will be geared towards ecotourism and environment, customer service, marketing and sales, basic computer literacy, and much more. This will lead to higher levels of conversational English in the Tamatave region, which needs it more than ever now that the Ambatovy mining project has started and English speakers are flooding in. Our project will help local people get jobs, make it possible for small business owners to communicate with clients, increase the accessibility of the region for English speaking tourists, and provide fun and educational activities for everyone in the community.
Please help us reach our goals by donating securely online through PayPal here:
Great website!
Your ideas sound great! I really miss Madagascar!
James Emerton
RPCV-Madagascar 2000-2002
Vavatenina
Dear Sandra and Sara,
I am currently working in near Toliara as Project Manager for Reef Doctor (www.reefdoctor.org). I think you’ve got a great idea. I’m currently very busy with my work here, but I’d be willing to help out in anyway I can. I will keep my eyes out for grants, possible partner organizations, and star English speakers.
Best of luck,
Shawn
PS if you should happen to be in the Toliara region, be sure to come up to Ifaty and stay with us (it’s gorgeous an we can put you up and feed you for free)