THE CERCLE : A CENTRE FOR EDUCATION AND LIFE SKILLS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN ANOSY

Children with their school packs for the CERCLE class

In response to a request from local Malagasy NGO Andry Lalana Tohana (ALT MG) the Trust secured funds from the Aldama Foundation to help launch this important local initiative : The CERCLE, Centre for Education, Reintegration, Communication and Exclusive Leadership, for children and young people in the Anosy region of southern Madagascar.

THE CHALLENGES OF EDUCATION FOR THE MOST POOR

In Madagascar, almost half of the population is under 18. Approximately 33% of those under are of school age within the Malagasy state education system, starting at the age of six. According to a study done by the World Bank, the level of education in Madagascar remains one of the lowest in the world; the average schooling rate for children aged 6 to 10 fell from 80% to 75% between 2005 and 2010. This rate is still decreasing in the southern part of Madagascar. The dropout rate before T5 (CM2) is 50%, especially in rural areas.

The city of Fort Dauphin has not escaped this situation despite the development of the city for the past 10 years. The high cost of living leaves the majority of vulnerable households to abandon the education of their children.

Lack of money for school supplies and fees is the main cause of school exclusion and leads to aggravating phenomena such as child labor. Young people attracted by easy money engage in prostitution. Young girls without occupation readily accept to marry early and experience early pregnancy, which can have long term impacts on the health and prosperity of the family.

A child sings at the launch of the CERCLE in Anosy region

In recognition of the importance of education as a key factor in development outcomes ALT MG launched the CERCLE : Center for Education, Reintegration, Communication and Exclusive Leadership, which aims to help children and young people who have not had the opportunity to access formal education or other training for various reasons, including:

  • High levels of poverty preventing the family from sending their children to school
  • Security issues (sexual harassment, violence, intimidation)
  • Girls deprived of education by tradition, boys’ education is considered more important
  • Girls become mothers (early pregnancy)

Depending on the case of children / young people, the CERCLE offers critical support for their schooling and social reintegration. The children have a fundamental right to appropriate education for their situation and such as can help them develop essential skills, critical thinking and self-confidence, creating a healthy foundation for them to succeed in their lives. The CERCLE is also open to young people so that they can discuss, ask for advice, and access practical training useful for their development and knowledge of new technology such as computers and the Internet.

The existence of the CERCLE will help these children / youth to flourish and access the education they need.

THE CERCLE – PROVIDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND LIFE SKILLS FOR THE MOST DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN IN ANOSY REGION

The CERCLE was launched by Andry Lalana Tohana (ALT MG) on 10th April 2019 after two months of preparations including building refurbishment, meetings with local authorities, identification of families and children for enrolment, location of additional local classroom space outside the CERCLE building, equipment purchases, and the training of teachers in literacy and life skills training.

Registration with families and children

The CERCLE Classes began on the 15th April 2019 for 142 identified children who were not attending school and who come from vulnerable families in four of the Fokontany (villages) in Tolagnaro commune.

The children were organized into separate classes according to their ability. Each student received the necessary school supplies including notebooks, pens, slates, rulers, and chalk. Blackboards were provided for each classroom.

142 students received four months of schooling in basic literacy, numeracy and life skills to prepare them to re-enter the formal state school system with the necessary capabilities.

Towards the end of August, students went through revision and final tests and the results act as the guideline as to whether the child is then able to return to primary elementary school level 1 (T1) of level 2 (T2) classes in the public school system.  During the holidays, the CERCLE students will join the public school for the CREN (National Education Review Course) before their level test for reintegration into classrooms in public primary schools closest to their homes.

142 CERCLE students will join classes in September in local primary schools. The Regional Director of Education had asked primary school principals to prioritise the return of students from the CERCLE classroom because he is convinced of the effectiveness of the methodology used by ALT MG at the CERCLE.

YOU CAN HELP US TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT CHILDREN ATTENDING THE CERCLE BY DONATING VIA THE LINK AND MARKING THE DONATION “FOR THE CERCLE”

Meeting with parents at Tanambao

MAKING IT HAPPEN

A series of courtesy visits was conducted with the local authorities and potential partners to announce the existence of the project and ask them for their support and collaboration. The local Prefect for the District remarked on the importance of the project in the urban commune and also expressed that he would like to see the expansion of the project in the most remote areas of Anosy region. The Mayor of the city of Tolagnaro, capital of Anosy, thanked the team for recognising that the city needs this project. He believes that this kind of project is a great help to reduce the juvenile delinquency that is gaining momentum in the city of Tolagnaro.

The eleven Fokontany chiefs (village leaders) of the urban commune were visited, although only four Fokontany were targeted for the first phase of the project.

Outreach- meeting with villagers in Isokaky

At the level of the Ministry of Education, the Regional Director of Education was very motivated to support this project because the activities are aligned with the national programme of education for the reintegration of children into school. He facilitated the ALT MG team to approach the School District Service (CISCO), ZAP Heads and School Directors.

During the courtesy visit to the Regional Directorate of Youth and Sport (DRJS), the Director of the DRJS was interested in the Life skills part of the CERCLE programme because the Ministry will be developing this activity in the region. They were poised to bring a Life Skills trainer to deliver a training course in Amboasary. The ALT MG team seized the opportunity and asked if they could attend this training. The Director gave his agreement and the team attended training from February 7 to 17, 2019.

The Regional Technical Assistant in the Child Protection Section of UNICEF came to the ALT MG office to learn more about the project.

ENGAGING FAMILIES

For the first phase of CERCLE activity the main target Fokontany (villages) in the Tolagnaro urban community were: AMPARIHY, ESOKAKA, TANAMBAO, AMPOTATRA.  According to the information given by the municipality and the school district, these four Fokontany have a high rate of vulnerable parents with children who do not go to school.

Children registered for class by their families

After the presentation of the project in the Fokontany, the team asked the Fokontany Chief to support the ALT MG team in identifying those children who had not had the opportunity to go to school and those who could not continue to go to class because their parents do not have the means. Each Fokontany Chief had a village meeting to explain the programme to their community and invited parents to then register their child.

Community workers with the ALT MG team went door-to-door to ensure information reached vulnerable parents with children who do not attend class and who were not able to be present at the Fokontany meeting. The team obtained a list of children aged 6 to 17 eligible for literacy training that will encourage and enable them to return to formal state school class in the next school year.

Given the geographical challenges of the position of the ALT MG office, which is some distance from some of the four Fokontany of Amparihy, Esokaka and Tanambao, the ALT MG team requested collaboration from the Fokontany Chiefs that they find a room/space for the CERCLE children in their respective villages. Each Fokontany were able to use the CERCLE classroom or offered a dedicated space for the literacy classes in their commune.

THE LAUNCH

The official launch of the project was carried out on April 10, 2019 at the CERCLE classroom space.

Director of ALT MG presents the CERCLE during the launch ceremony

The Representative of the Prefect of the Region, the Deputy Mayor, the representatives of the Ministry of Education (Chief ZAP), the Presidents of the four Fokontany, the Regional Technical Assistant in the Child Protection Section of UNICEF all attended, as did the parents and students.

The national TV reporter reported on the CERCLE Launch and the show aired on TVM.

The official opening of the CERCLE followed a series of speeches by the local authorities and by Mme Hanitra Raharimanana, Director of Andry Lalana Toahana (ALT MG). The opening was well attended and warmly welcomed by parents and authorities who recognize the need to reach and support the most vulnerable families and children in the region.

To increase awareness of the CERCLE, ALT MG also participated in the “day of schools” in Ft Dauphin, Anosy.

ALT MG team create awareness of the CERCLE at the “Day of Schools” in Tolagnaro

BUILDING CAPACITY – TRAINING OF CERCLE TRAINERS

Two trainers from ALT MG already had literacy teaching capacity. To increase their capacity in teaching literacy to young children, ALT MG appealed to the FFMM Grand Trainer (Fifampiofanana Fanabeazana Fikolokoloana Ho Malagasy Mahomby) based in Fianarantsoa, a specialist recognized in the effective Methodology for literacy training throughout Madagascar.

In addition to the specialised training, all the necessary tools including reading books, calculation books, brochures and mimeographs were provided to the trainers.  The training for trainers took place over two weeks from May 31 to June 15, 2019.

Training of CERCLE Trainers in Amboasary

As well as literacy training, young people will also have support and training in Life Skills so that they can have the capabilities necessary for advancing their personal life, education and work prospects.  This includes building important psychological foundations such as confidence and self esteem.

The two trainers of ALT MG attended a life skills training of trainers organized by the Regional Directorate of Youth and Sport (DRJS) of Anosy from 7 to 17 February 2019. This has helped to provide them with the necessary coaching elements that they can use to support youth for strengthening their psychosocial skills

ORGANISING THE STUDENTS

To ensure that each child will receive the support needed during their learning process, a maximum of 25 students per class was established.

Children in literacy class at the CERCLE classroom

After identifying the children in the four Fokontany, a small test was conducted to facilitate the grouping of students according to their ability.  The test results enabled two classes to be set up: one class for those who never attended school  (T0) and children who have already gone to primary elementary school 1  (T1) ; and a second for those who had already gone to primary elementary school 2 (T2).

Two classes per Fokontany were organized and two ALT MG trainers were allocated to take care of the students as part of this CERCLE project. The class hours are the same in the four Fokontany from Monday to Thursday; Friday is devoted to preparation of next classes by the trainers.  Classes T0-T1 works from 8h to 11h in the morning and classes T2 and more from 14h to 17h in the afternoon.

MOTHERS ATTEND LITERACY CLASS

THE CERCLE is now helping the mothers of children attending the CERCLE and who have asked to learn how to read and write. ALT MG trainers go beyond the call of duty to teach at the weekend because these mothers have to work weekdays in order to meet the needs of their families.

YOU CAN HELP US TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT CHILDREN ATTENDING THE CERCLE BY DONATING VIA THE LINK AND MARKING THE DONATION “FOR THE CERCLE”

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