by Safidy Randrianirina
Too many children in Madagascar face stunting, wasting, and chronic malnutrition. Nearly 45% are stunted before their fifth birthday, a silent emergency with lifelong consequences. Yet even in the face of these challenges, hope continues to grow.
Our featured image (above) shows Reny sy Zaza Tomady volunteers teaching families about healthy food groups and balanced family diets. We also support families in establishing home gardens to strengthen long-term nutrition at home.
“Malnutrition is a significant development challenge in Madagascar. Madagascar is one of the 28 countries in the world where chronic malnutrition has remained above 30% for more than a decade.
“According to WHO standards, children under two should consume at least five of eight defined food groups to develop their cognitive and physical abilities. However, a recent report found that 74% of children in Madagascar consume only three to four food groups per day, while 24% consume only one or two, which is considered severe food poverty. In southern Madagascar, 86% of households cannot afford a varied and nutritious diet.”
Since its founding in 2017, Reny sy Zaza Tomady — meaning “Healthy and Strong Mothers and Children” — has been a source of that hope. Officially certified in 2025, the association works hand in hand with families to break the cycle of malnutrition and strengthen the foundation of home life.
Through our programs, children receive vital nutritional supplements, to support healthy growth and development. We also nurture young minds by encouraging a love for books and reading. At the same time, mothers are empowered to recognize their essential role within the family and community — gaining practical skills, such as creating micro-gardens, to improve food security and foster self-reliance.
Volunteer preparing a family micro-garden plot
Reny sy Zaza Tomady believes that when mothers and children thrive, families become stronger — and communities flourish with them.
Bringing Hope to Children in Madagascar
That’s why I’m so grateful to the Bountiful Children’s Foundation, which opened the door for me to be part of something greater. An organization that is truly changing lives. Bountiful Children works across the globe to fight childhood malnutrition. In Madagascar, it is giving children not just food and care, but dignity, love and hope.
As a communication leader with the Foundation, my mission is to share these children’s stories and connect with people who want to make a difference. I reach out to find people who are willing to support these children, helping others see and feel the urgent needs these young ones face every day.
Screening children for malnutrition in Madagascar
A Photo Gallery
This work is bigger than me. I cannot do it alone. But together — with your help — we can bring light into the lives of these children. We can offer them not only food and care, but also the hope of a brighter future. Every act of kindness, every donation, and every bit of support can help change their lives and show them a world full of possibility.
Together, we can be their hope.
Why Madagascar?
Madagascar is a country of vibrant culture and natural beauty — but also one of the world’s highest child malnutrition rates. 5th worst-affected country in the world, with nearly 40 percent of children under 5 years old (about 2 million children) affected by some form of malnutrition, especially in rural areas.
Established as Bountiful Children Foundation Madagascar in 2017, it became Reny sy Zaza Tomady in 2023, meaning Healthy and Strong Mothers and Children. The organization has been walking alongside Malagasy communities to fight malnutrition and build stronger families. We nourish children, educate mothers, and help families take steps toward lasting self-reliance. For our community, this work is more than just programs — it is a source of hope and strength.
Through international support, Reny sy Zaza Tomady has been able to expand nutrition programs, provide vital health education, and empower mothers to protect and provide for their children. Children who once went to bed hungry are now growing healthier, and mothers who once felt powerless are now confident and resilient.
For us, this effort is like creating light in the middle of darkness. Where there was once malnutrition, fear, and uncertainty, now there is knowledge, nourishment, and the promise of a brighter future for every child.”
How We Help
At Reny sy Zaza Tomady, we are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of mothers and children in Madagascar. Our core activities include regular nutritional screening to identify children at risk, the distribution of supplementary food to support growth, and breastfeeding support to encourage optimal infant nutrition. Through these targeted efforts, we aim to prevent malnutrition, promote healthy development, and empower families with the knowledge to care for their children.
Your monthly donation of $15 gives one Malagasy child the nutrition and follow-up care needed for a healthier, brighter future.
Skipping one restaurant meal a month can change a child’s life forever.
A monthly gift of $75 supports five children who urgently need supplementation and monitoring.
Donate Now
Strategic Alignment with Government Goals
RZT-M goals align with PPAN 2026-2028:
- Infant and Young Child Feeding
- National Dietary Supplementation Program
- Micronutrient Supplementation
- Early Child Development
- Maternal Mental Health
- Women’s Empowerment
- WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)
- Focus on reducing all forms of malnutrition
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