By Safidy Randrianirina

In Madagascar, childhood is not always what it should be.

Too many children face stunting, wasting, and chronic malnutrition. Nearly 40% are stunted before their fifth birthday — a silent emergency with lasting consequences. But where challenges are great, hope can grow stronger still.

My name is Safidy Randrianirina, and I have the privilege of sharing that hope.

As the communications lead for Reny sy Zaza Tomady — Bountiful Children’s Foundation’s local partner in Madagascar — I see firsthand the struggles families face… and the real difference your support makes. Though I don’t yet have children of my own, I have always felt a deep love for them. Children seem to sense it too. I’ve made it my life’s work to help tell their stories, so they are seen, known, and supported.

Why Madagascar?

Madagascar is a country of vibrant culture and natural beauty — but also one of the world’s highest child malnutrition rates. Nearly 8% of children are acutely underweight. Almost half are born into homes where safe food is never guaranteed.

Since 2021, Bountiful Children’s Foundation has worked alongside Malagasy communities through Reny sy Zaza Tomady — meaning “Healthy and Strong Mothers and Children.” Together, we nourish children, educate mothers, and help families grow toward lasting self-reliance.

Our Work

At Reny sy Zaza Tomady, we focus on four life-changing priorities:
Nutrition: We provide food supplements during the critical first 1,000 days of life and teach mothers about balanced nutrition.

• Women’s Empowerment: We help mothers understand and advocate for their children’s health and education.
• Education: We foster a love of learning with small school libraries and reading programs.
• Self-Reliance: We teach square-foot gardening and healthy food production for families and schools.

In 2024, nearly 120 children were supported with direct nutrition. We’ve seen underweight children recover and thrive — children like Koloina, whose small body hides a brave heart and a growing future.

Scaling the Impact

With your help, we can do more.

Supporting one child currently costs $186 per year. But by growing the program to reach 640 children, we can reduce that cost to just $105. That’s nearly doubling our reach — with the same level of care and quality.

Every gift, every shared post, and every volunteer makes this possible. I may be just one storyteller, but you can be the reason a child thrives.

Let’s give Madagascar’s children what they deserve — not just food and medicine, but a real chance to grow up strong, healthy, and full of promise.

Together, we can be their hope!