With joy and strength into a shared future
Making school possible – strengthening health – building the future: the Tenaquip School in Madagascar is on its way to becoming a Waldorf school. For around 850 children and young people, it is already a place to learn, grow and live together.
Our home among the rice fields
Our school lies in the middle of the countryside, about 30 kilometres from the capital, Antananarivo. There are no paved roads here, and hardly anyone owns a motorbike or a car. Rice fields stretch as far as the eye can see. Many of us live with our families in small mud houses.
Before the school day begins
Our parents work in the rice fields from morning till night. We children help too: early in the morning we fetch water or firewood for the family, take the cow out to graze or the ducks to the river. Many families have very little money. For some, shoes are a luxury, and often there is only one meal a day.
How our school began
In 2010, the Canadian teacher Kathy Lucking came to our area while travelling. She saw that there was no school here and was not willing to accept that. Together with the local people, she began to build our school.
Today, around 850 children and young people learn here – from kindergarten age right up to the school-leaving exam. About 50 teachers and eight other staff members keep school life going, including in the kitchen, the office and the carpentry workshop.
More than a place to learn
We grow vegetables in our school garden. A small solar installation provides electricity. In our rice mill, our parents' rice is cleaned so that they can sell it at the market for a better price.
In the school kitchen, our meals are cooked in large pots over an open fire. Usually there is rice with some vegetables – but enough for everyone.
Some of us walk for two hours to get to school. Here we can learn to understand the world and our lives and to fill them with meaning.
On the way to becoming a Waldorf school
We want to grow more and more into a Waldorf school. Our teachers and parents are committed to this, supported by Waldorf teachers from all over the world.
For many years, trainers from stART international in Germany have been providing regular further training for our teaching staff. Teachers from the capital now also come to the Waldorf training courses.
Developing the school together
Our parents help with the funding. As far as they are able, they pay one to three euros a month. But many families cannot afford even this contribution. That is why we need support to pay our teachers, buy school materials and repair buildings.
What your WOW-Day makes possible
With your activities, you help sustain our everyday school life and move our development into a Waldorf school forward. A particular priority is the ongoing training of our teaching staff in Waldorf education.
Each year, the school hopes to receive 10,000 to 20,000 euros from WOW-Day activities. Your support creates space for learning, for community and for new perspectives.
