Who are we?
Education to grow and serve.
GARDE Madagascar connects knowledge with life experience, child protection and solidarity between generations.
Our purpose
Growing with dignity
In Madagascar, challenges involving school, safety, nutrition and living conditions can hinder children’s development. We want to work with families and communities to create opportunities to learn and thrive.
What we believe
Knowledge comes alive through action.
Books and science are essential. Lived experience also helps us understand, exercise judgment and turn what we know into helpful action for others.
Our founding vision
The true purpose of education
To educate is to help form a complete, aware and inwardly free human being.
True education should purify our perceptions, develop our moral and spiritual qualities, and shape a noble, steady and upright character. It should teach everyone to put their knowledge and abilities at the service of Humanity, while cultivating the discernment needed to distinguish Good from Evil, right from wrong and what matters from what does not.
Material and scientific knowledge must be joined by knowledge grounded in lived experience. What we learn from books is secondhand knowledge. In real situations, only direct experience can turn knowledge into understanding and wisdom.
This deeper knowledge grows from a sincere desire for Light and Love.
Unfortunately, education too often aims to help people become wealthy in pursuit of comfort, pleasure and material satisfaction. It should pursue a much higher aim: to form a complete, aware and inwardly free human being, able to discern, love and serve.
The success of education is therefore measured not only by what a person knows or owns, but by who they become and what they can give to others.
To educate is to awaken the mind, purify the heart, strengthen character and open awareness.
What guides us
Our values
We seek to put this vision into practice in our relationships, activities and choices.
Discernment
Learn to recognize what matters and make thoughtful choices.
Dignity
Recognize the worth of every person.
Protection
Safeguard children’s safety and rights.
Integrity
Make our actions match our words.
Solidarity
Put our knowledge and abilities to work for others.
Responsibility
Care for people, communities and nature.
From vision to action
Learn with head, heart and hands.
Our projects provide what people need to learn and opportunities to put knowledge into practice.
Listen
Explore
Experiment
Discern
Share
Our mission in action
Commitments that reinforce one another
Education, protection, nutrition, empowerment of young people and women, community development and the environment all contribute to a more dignified and responsible life.
Our team
Committed people
GARDE Madagascar brings together volunteers, professionals, partners and citizens with a shared goal: supporting Malagasy children and communities with respect and solidarity.
Our governance
The GARDE Madagascar board
A committed team coordinating the association’s work and advancing its mission with children and communities.
President
ZAFILAHY Ulrich Roddy Ricko
Vice-President
YAMICOLE Maximilien Gerald
Secretary
KALOFENO Marielle Angela
Treasurer
RASAMIMANANA Sonnia
Board adviser
VOLATIANA Djenny
Board adviser
MIASA Jalles Costa Felitin
Also serving as board adviser: ZAFINANTENAINA François.