Helping one mother in Madagascar changes generations
From protection to a new life
IRC Africa Inc, together with the local NGO TERATANY, operates a life-saving shelter for women and children survivors of violence in southern Madagascar.
We combine immediate protection with long-term independence through employment programs and a women’s technology campus.
Beyond direct aid, the project also serves as a practical model showing how effective protection systems can work in regions without formal welfare infrastructure.
We
operate Ny Trano Manga (“The Blue House”), the first safe shelter
for women and children in Madagascar, providing immediate protection
for women and their young children fleeing violence and forced child
marriage.
Once safe,
women receive support for recovery and reintegration into the community,
and we also provide targeted assistance to women at high risk in nearby
communities.
IRC Africa
Inc., together with the local Malagasy organization TERATANY (meaning
“people of the land”), led by CEO Mamy Duata, is establishing an
employment and entrepreneurship center for mothers and a technology campus for
young women high school graduates,
creating a pathway from survival to long-term economic independence.
The program is
coordinated with regional authorities in Androy and the municipality of
Ambovombe, enabling formal referrals and sustainable integration.
On-the-ground
leadership:
Eldad Garfunkel, Founder and CEO of IRC Africa Inc., worked on the ground
alongside the local women-led team for over six months.
In the communities where we work in southern Madagascar, a region heavily affected by climate change, prolonged drought, lack of clean water and food, and high infant morbidity and mortality rates, many women are single mothers abandoned without income or protection. Many experience violence, exploitation, and economic dependence that traps them in cycles of risk.
The crisis affects not only the women but also their children, who suffer from malnutrition and ongoing instability.
Through Ny Trano Manga (“The Blue House”) – the first and only shelter of its kind in Madagascar, we provide immediate protection for survivors of violence, emotional support, and a recovery process. We then work to strengthen their personal and economic independence so they will not be forced to return to dangerous situations.
Our goal is not only temporary rescue, but a life path change – for the mother and for the next generation.
Helping one mother in Madagascar changes generations
In 2022, Eldad Garfunkel arrived in southern Madagascar for what was meant to be a short visit. After witnessing the severe living conditions in the region, he joined a local aid initiative as a volunteer. The planned few-week stay became more than two and a half months, working closely with the community.
During this time, it became clear that women and girls facing violence and forced child marriage had virtually no real protection. Despite the presence of local and international organizations, major gaps in the support system left many without help.
In response to this need, and in partnership with local leadership, IRC Africa was established, followed by Ny Trano Manga – the first shelter of its kind in Madagascar.
Most of the initial funding for the shelter came directly from Eldad’s personal savings, enabling immediate action before external funding was available.
Since then, the organization has been building a full pathway of support: immediate protection, recovery, and long-term economic independence.
We are looking for people who want to take a real role in changing the lives of women and children in southern Madagascar.
Our work combines direct humanitarian action with long-term solutions, and we welcome collaboration, professional volunteering, and support in fundraising. We are also open to your creative ideas that can help expand the impact.
You can contribute remotely or on the ground through your time, expertise, experience, or simply by connecting us to the right person. Each can create meaningful change.
If you want to be part of a small but direct initiative where the results are visible on the ground, we would be glad to talk.
Join us and be part of the change
Join us and collaborate in various channels of activity to promote innovation in Africa:
We promise not to be a nuisance and only send updates on our projects and plans if you are genuinely interested.