The pandemic has brought about many losses in our lives. Most parts of the globe have been hit severely due to this crisis. Countries have been affected in many ways rather than just economical aspects. Day-to-day lives of people have also been severely impacted, not just in financial terms. Pandemic has exposed the huge inequalities about our society and more than ever it has proved to us that the world is volatile, uncertain and ambiguous. But one thing that has not changed is the causes non-profits are championing. So don’t be disheartened, we have stories of hope and positivity as well. In a first, 12 Indian-origin businessmen have pledged to contribute more than half a million USD for the construction or rehabilitation programme for 15 primary schools in Madagascar.
The Indian community in Madagascar has come forward to express solidarity with them in these difficult times and extended their support to help build schools in Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo.
The VISEO Foundation, which gave a call for funds to companies to be a part of this great venture was responded by twelve major companies in Madagascar headed by Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) from Gujarat. They pledged over half million USD in the presence of NainaAndriantsitohaina, Mayor of the Urban Commune of Antananarivo (CUA), Indian Ambassador Abhay Kumar and French Ambassador Christophe Bouchard for the construction and rehabilitation programme for 15 of the 95 primary schools in the capital Antananarivo. The foundation, headed by MoustafaHiridjee, strives to improve areas of health and education, supports access to education and vocational training and implementation of projects in education for excellence, employing more than 700 employees across Madagascar to maintain a business flow with more than 50 international partners.
Indian community in Madagascar comprises roughly of 25,000 individuals with 867 NRIs and the rest being locally born descendants of early immigrants. They form a minority ethnic group in Madagascar. Most of them come mainly from Gujarat. They play a key role in the society and economy of Madagascar. Madagascar, the second-largest island country in the world as well as the fourth-largest island located in the Indian Ocean with a population of over 2.6 crores, is easily connected with India via Mauritius, Nairobi and Addis Ababa. Visa on arrival is available to the Indian nationals.
