Walking towards her future
The story of Jarelle, a future doctor despite the obstacles
In the small commune of Antanifotsy, in the heart of the Analanjirofo region, 14-year-old Jarelle, an eighth-grader at the public middle school, embodies courage, determination, and hope. Despite harsh living conditions, she consistently shines academically, especially in science, a subject she deeply enjoys.
Every week, Jarelle walks more than 20 kilometers there and back to meet up with her parents, who live in a remote village far from the school. On Fridays after school, she makes the long journey alone to spend the weekend with her family. But it's not just a homecoming: it's also a supply mission. On Sunday afternoons, she takes the same route in the opposite direction, carrying on foot whatever food her parents have been able to provide, such as rice, a few vegetables, and sometimes some little dried fish. All this she carries alone, in heavy sacks, over the dirt paths, to survive the week.
Jarelle lives alone, far from her parents. She prepares her meals and manages her daily routine, all the while diligently attending school. This early and forced autonomy, rather than being an obstacle, has become a source of maturity and motivation for her.
I'm tired sometimes, but I think about my dream of becoming a doctor. It gives me the strength to carry on," she confides, her eyes shining with hope.
Jarelle doesn't just have to cope with her family's distance and insecurity. Like many young people in her situation, she also faces the challenge of inadequate school infrastructure. The middle school in Antanifotsy lacks equipment for science classes, especially for the hands-on experiments she loves so much. And yet, thanks to the recent introduction of new teaching methodologies that focus on experimentation and active participation, Jarelle has discovered a new passion for science, particularly in the fields of life and earth sciences, as well as physics and chemistry.
"Now, I understand better the lessons. I love it when we experiment. We do not usually have goos materials but the teachers try their best to demonstrate with the ones we have."
Thanks to these new approaches, Jarelle has not only improved her grades but also consolidated her self-confidence. Her teachers describe her as one of the brightest students in her class, curious, diligent, and always ready to help others.
Her dream of becoming a doctor is not just an ambition. It's a call from the heart. She wants to heal, help, and inspire other young girls in her community to believe in their potential.
"I'd like our school to have more equipment, for us but also for the children who will come after us. We learn better when we can touch, see, and try things out."
Jarelle's story is that of many young girls in Madagascar who, regardless of distance, poverty, and obstacles, continue to dream, learn, and fight for a better future. It is also a living testimony to the positive impact that innovative educational approaches can have, even in difficult contexts.
By improving access to appropriate equipment, increasing support for teachers, and planning educational infrastructures closer to rural communities, we can offer hundreds of children like Jarelle not only a quality education but also a real opportunity to transform their future.
Note: These activities are part of the Let Us Learn program, made possible thanks to funding from the Findel Foundation and the German Committee for UNICEF.
