%20-%20Copie.jpg)
The history of the association
The Avoko Faravohitra center was created in 1963, by the initiative of two missionaries from FAFFIP (Charity Center of the Protestant Church), Sophie VAN WELLY from Holland and Elisabeth DOLDER from Switzerland after they noticed that many children no longer able to feed themselves following the crisis caused by the flood which struck Madagascar in 1958, committed thefts and were imprisoned in adult prisons.
The center was created to preserve and guarantee the rights of children according to law 62-038 of September 19, 1962 relating to the protection of minors. Faced with this effect, the two women contacted the Protestant church which gave them a house to receive the minors. Cooperation with the State is established and the placement of the child is ordered by the juvenile judges.
This reception center, even though it is under the aegis of the Protestant Church, welcomes young girls without distinction of religion, origin or social class. The majority of girls placed at the center come from vulnerable neighborhoods of Analamanga and are between 7 and 17 years old.
Training
To help young girls find a job and enter working life, a team of educators take turns every week to share their skills and teach their interpersonal skills and know-how. Mainly, girls learn to cook, sew or do crafts, particularly from raffia.
For several years, the center has sent certain young girls to public schools to complete their education. Since school is paying and due to lack of resources, not all girls can have access to education.
The cost of sending a girl to school for one year is x euros (x ariary) according to the exchange rate of October 2023.
More than ever, helping a young girl by sponsoring her means giving her access to an education by sending her to school.
Volunteers
The Akany Avoko Faravohitra association is a partner of several foreign associations such as Globalong. This relationship allows foreign volunteers to come and carry out a humanitarian volunteering mission within the center.
As the needs of the center and the girls are numerous, the missions can vary. Here is an example of help expected from volunteers:
- Reconstruction and maintenance of the building;
- Moral and emotional support for girls by offering them activities;
- Learning French and other skills such as IT;
- Help with the visibility of the association on social networks.