28-29:Issue 2 27/04/2009 10:45 Page 28
Province of the Indian Ocean
Madagascar
M
adagascar’s Mothers’ Union is saying ‘Please,
remember us in your prayers’ as the country
struggles to recover from two cyclones, political unrest
and civil unrest.
The Province of the Indian Ocean, covering Mothers' Union in Antsiranana mobilised its
Madagascar, Mauritius and the Seychelles, members and local clergy to take action
was founded in 1973 with seven dioceses. against sexual exploitation, child labour and
Mothers’ Union first came to Madagascar in
trafficking. A seminar was held in August
1903 and this is where the majority of the
2007 for Mothers' Union leaders and clergy
members in the province live. Since January
at which these topics were discussed. In
2008, Madagascar has been hit by two
November 2008 the Mothers’ Union’s
cyclones. Both brought heavy
Overseas Development Fund
rainfall to the island, affecting
helped them to hold a
more than 239,000 people.
follow-up event to
The resultant floods hit
monitor progress and
heavily populated areas
such as the capital city
further raise awareness.
of Antananarivo, as
They now hope to
well as important
establish nine
farming areas. And in
’listening centres’
early 2009 tensions
through the diocese
flared up between rival
where counselling
groups of supporters of
services will be offered.
the President and the
opposition Mayor of
One great need within the
Antananarivo, resulting in
province is the provision of
deaths and looting in the capital.
basic literacy and numeracy
skills. Responding to these needs,
Laurette, Mothers’ Union worker from the
literacy programmes for women and young
Diocese of Antsiranana writes: ‘…at the
girls have started in most of the dioceses.
moment, everything seems to be at a
Certificates were awarded to 152 newly
standstill in this country. It is so unsafe. We literate people in the Diocese of
have "two governments" and they are still Antananarivo in 2008. Other major
fighting for power. Please, remember us in achievements include the translation of the
your prayers.’ Mothers' Union Prayer Books into Malagasy.
Fact File
Population:: 20,042,552
Mothers’ Union members:5,560
28 www.themothersunion.org
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