In the company’s annual Impact Report, it said it has doubled its year-on-year commitments, creating more jobs and generating more 1 for Change development funds than in previous years. As well as funding adult literacy projects, MIA said it has addressed eight United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and its chocolate production activities supported 36 full-time jobs and its cocoa farmer partners have protected over 10,000 trees.
In a country affected by famine and drought, 23% of its adult population is also illiterate according to World Bank statistics.
Brett Beach, MIA co-founder, said: “During the six years I lived in Madagascar, I had first-hand experience with people who didn’t have the opportunity to learn to read and write. Knowing that literacy unlocks a world of potential and allows people to better their lives, it was always heart-breaking to see someone disenfranchised through no fault of their own.”
MIA’s Parent Literacy & Business Basics Programme was implemented in partnership with UK charity Money for Madagascar and benefitted the community around the Mahitsy Primary School in the highlands of Madagascar where MIA previously helped fund the construction of a school kitchen and provide fruit tree scholarships.
Beach said that in addition to acquiring literacy, 20 parents benefitted from business training and 10 fruit trees for a family orchard with up to 140 children better educated and nourished.
Money for Madagascar Director Irenée Rajaona-Horne said: “The project is designed to improve livelihoods in practical ways. Firstly, literate parents are more productive members of school committee that are crucial to maintaining and are empowered to help their children with homework. The business training and fruit trees allow beneficiaries to improve family nutrition and provide a secondary income to help with school fees, health care and other essential needs.”
According to Money for Madagascar, 10 trees can generate enough money to pay for the school costs for up to seven students, enabling parents to keep their children in school longer and earn extra income.
- Download MIA’s latest impact report here.