A Mother’s Courage in Madagascar

In southern Madagascar, where the land is dry and life is often arduous, a resilient woman named Francine lives with her husband, who has a disability, and their four energetic boys. As a farmer, Francine grows sweet potatoes, corn, and pumpkin for sale – and she supplements her income by selling water, a precious commodity in this arid region.

In recent years, though, drought and locust invasions destroyed Francine’s crops, and the situation for her family became critical. Hunger set in, severely affecting the family’s health and well-being.

“My son Francio was very weak, suffering from acute malnutrition. He was extremely fatigued. At that time, we had nothing to prepare for lunch and were often without food,” said Francine.

World Renew was able to intervene by offering emergency aid in partnership with Canadian Foodgrains Bank and SAF/FJKM, the humanitarian arm of Madagascar’s Reformed Church. Through this partnership 2,100 households (13,650 people) received monthly food baskets between March and August. 

“Each month we received 60 kilograms of rice, 2 litres of oil, and 9 kilograms of beans,” Francine reported. 

This support was more than just a food basket. For Francine it was a lifeline of hope.

Francine said she felt overwhelmed with relief. “The arrival of the rice changed everything,” she said. “Thanks to this, we were able to eat our fill, from breakfast to dinner. Today, my children can continue their education. We are gradually regaining our strength.”

As the family’s health improved, Francine added, their faith in God’s love and abundance also grew. Every shared meal is now one more step toward a better future.

“Resilience is not about going back to how things were. It’s about moving forward despite everything,” she said.