PROVIDING AN EDUCATION TO THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN ONE VILLAGE AT A TIME

Sixty years ago, in 1953, the Assumptionists arrived in Madagascar, the almost forgotten island off the southeast coast of the African continent. The southern end of the island was administered by the Vincentians but covered an immense territory that they were only too willing to share. They retained the eastern half of this territory while the newly arrived Assumptionists assumed responsibility for the western half, with its main urban center Tuléar, in Malagasy Toliara. The head of the Assumptionist mission, Fr. Michel Canonne, was to become the first bishop of the newly erected diocese in 1959.

The southern region of the "Big Island" (Grand Ile), as the country is called in French, is hardly favored with natural resources --- minerals or fresh water. Poverty and illiteracy remain rampant. When the Assumptionists arrived, everything needed to be built from scratch --- churches, schools, hospitals, rectories, residences, even roads. It was the driest area of the country and the Catholic population was minimal. Even to this day, after so many years of apostolic effort, only 10% of the population is Catholic, the rest practicing animist religions and adverse to conversion.

About 15 years ago, Fr. Michel Jary, currently the vice-provincial of the Assumptionists in Madagascar, set out on an ambitious project --- the creation of a network of village schools throughout the remote corners of the diocese to provide children with an opportunity to receive an education that would have otherwise have been impossible. A few such village schools had been begun previously, but either had discontinued or sputtered for lack of attention or adequate financial support. Over the past 15 years, with a particular shot in the arm by Fr. Daniel Carton, also a vice-provincial for some time, the Assumptionists have been able to create a network of over 40 such village schools and plans for expansion every year.

The genius of the network is that the initiative much come from the local village chiefs and the interest of parents. The Assumptionists pay 1/3 of the cost of construction and maintenance, while villages must provide 1/3 and parents 1/3. This formula has worked so well that a junior high school and senior high school became necessary and the very first graduates are attending Malagasy universities.

On 2011 at their general chapter the Assumptionists designated this network of schools a "mobilizing work" of the Congregation in order to highlight its success but also to assure its future.

Anyone wishing to support this ambitious effort can do so by writing to:

The Assumptionists
330 Market Street
Brighton, MA 01235