Young people championing girls' education
In 2026, in the southeastern Madagascar, the Vondrona Tanora Ifotony (VTI) - community youth groups, have been raising awareness among families, community leaders, and adolescent girls. Girls are among the main targets of these efforts.
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Portrait of the young volunteers crossing the Matitanana Bridge on their way to the village of Fenorarivo. From left to right, the team consists of Gertrude, Edvine, Larissa, Rufina, and Olin.
The team of young volunteers raises awareness with a mother at her home about the importance of girls’ education.
Led by Larissa (second from the right), 22, the team of young volunteers raises awareness among a mother at the entrance to the village about the importance of girls’ education.
Many girls are still out of school. But an educated girl will never be a burden to her family. She will be able to contribute to her children’s well-being and build her own future.
Larissa is a final-year high school student. She joined this group to gain meaningful volunteering experience while helping other girls. Very comfortable speaking with communities, she enjoys interacting with people and feels heard when she conducts awareness sessions. She also hopes to become a role model for younger girls in her community.
Portrait of Rufina, 22, a final-year high school student.
Raising awareness among young girls is important to me because I would like to see them succeed in the future.
Rufina sees her involvement in this group as an experience close to the professional world. Also interested in entrepreneurship, she hopes to one day develop her own business while continuing to encourage girls to believe in their abilities and their future.
Portrait of Olin, 24, during a house-to-house awareness session on the importance of girls’ education in a village household.
I like doing these activities with other young people. Together, we can encourage girls to stay in school.
Currently in his final year of high school, Olin also takes part in community activities.
Portrait of Gertrude, 21, one the young volunteers.
I was very sad to stop my studies. Today, I don’t want other girls to go through the same pain I did.
Gertrude knows first-hand the consequences of dropping out of school. She had to leave school in lower secondary due to financial difficulties. For her, taking part in these awareness activities is a new experience, but above all a way to help young girls stay hopeful and continue their education.
Edvine, 22, smiles at the camera and shares a fun moment with her peers under the Matitanana Bridge.
When people listen to us, we feel we can truly make a difference.
A high school graduate and U-Reporter, Edvine actively takes part in awareness activities. She particularly values visiting communities, which allow her to discover different realities and engage with various families. “I like doing these awareness sessions because I get to discover different places and different realities. When people listen to us, we feel we can truly make a difference,” she explains. Edvine hopes to pursue university studies to become a teacher.
The group of young volunteers conducts an awareness session with a group of women and girls under the Matitanana Bridge.
Note : The Let Us Learn programme is its fifth phase. In 2026, a year that also marks its fifteenth anniversary. This initiative is made possible through the financial support of the Findel Foundation and the German Committee for UNICEF.
Note : The Let Us Learn programme is its fifth phase. In 2026, a year that also marks its fifteenth anniversary. This initiative is made possible through the financial support of the Findel Foundation and the German Committee for UNICEF.
