Investing in education means investing in Madagascar’s future.
Educator Training: Rolling Out the Diary Nofy Literacy Program
Our three extraordinary Education Specialists — Rota Andriantsoa (La Mananara), Vanessa Olinda (Anjanaharibe-Sud Special Reserve), and Falina Razafimamonjy (Namoroka) — recently joined 13 fellow educators for an intensive two-day training workshop sponsored by our partner, Teach for Madagascar. The focus? Rolling out the third edition of Diary Nofy, a powerful literacy program centered on nature and animals — themes that deeply connect conservation with classroom learning.
During the training, participants learned how to:
- Administer pre- and post-tests to measure student growth
- Use interactive reading techniques to fully engage young learners
- Encourage students to express their emotions and reflections — something not traditionally emphasised in rural Malagasy classrooms
The goal is clear: strengthen environmental knowledge while improving literacy outcomes in rural schools surrounding our three field sites. When children learn to read through stories about their own forests, wildlife, and communities, conservation becomes personal. And when they learn to share their thoughts and feelings, confidence begins to grow alongside knowledge.
Weekly Reading Sessions at La Mananara: A School That Had No Books
At La Mananara, a simple but transformative change is underway. Led by our Education Specialist, Rota Andriantsoa, students are participating in weekly reading sessions through the Teach for Madagascar Diary program. Beginning with a structured reading assessment, the program is designed to meet students where they are and help them build critical literacy skills. This effort is especially impactful given that the school previously had no books.
Today, students are diving into the third series of readers developed by Teach for Madagascar, featuring wildlife themes that reflect their own surroundings. As they learn to read, they are also developing a deeper understanding of and connection to the natural world around them — fostering both literacy and a lasting love and respect for nature. A book can change everything, especially when it’s your first. It’s more than reading. It’s opening doors.
About Teach for Madagascar
Teach for Madagascar is a nonprofit organisation committed to improving education across the country by supporting teachers, developing culturally relevant learning materials, and expanding access to education for children in underserved communities. Their goal is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and reach their full potential.
Why Education Is Central to Conservation in Madagascar
The Diary Nofy program is one part of Wildlife Madagascar’s broader commitment to education as a conservation tool. In Madagascar, an estimated 88% illiteracy rate exists in some of the communities surrounding our field sites, and fewer than half of children in those areas have access to a school. Where schools do exist, they often lack books, electricity, or basic supplies. Meanwhile, approximately 96% of Madagascar’s reptiles, 90% of its plant life, and 95% of its mammals are found nowhere else on Earth — yet a surprising number of Malagasy children have little awareness of the extraordinary wildlife on their doorstep.
Wildlife Madagascar’s education strategy addresses this directly, working across our four field sites to build learning infrastructure, train conservation educators, support student scholarships, and deliver conservation-themed programs to children and adults alike. The goal: to grow a generation of Malagasy who know, love, and actively protect their island’s forests and wildlife.
This is just one way we are moving education and conservation forward together. To learn more, visit our Education Strategy page.