John and Cath felt called to move to Madagascar with their two children, Bethany and Lydia, in 2015 and established the charity FAMadagascar a year later. They came with a heart to serve the children and families of Madagascar and to see a foster care movement established in the capital city. In the UK, they were respite foster carers and teachers. As well as running FAMadagascar; John is an accredited teacher trainer for Cambridge University and has been involved in establishing both British Education Curriculum and local curriculum in schools in the capital city. They bring to the team their first hand experience of being foster carers, their love for Madagascar and their ability to make a good cup of English tea. Their journey in life and in Madagascar led them to one of their greatest life miracles: Erica. She is now six and is a treasured member of their family through adoption.
Lalasoa was the Director of Akany Avoko Children’s Centre of Excellence in Madagascar for seven years and currently works with children leaving care who need extra support. Before taking this post, she worked as a social worker for 10 years.
Her role and long experience as director of a centre has meant that she has an understanding of the backgrounds and needs of vulnerable children and families in Madagascar. She herself knows the deep needs of many of these children who long to belong to a family. Lalasoa has two birth children and (along with her supportive husband) has taken two other children into her own home. Their personal decision to become legal guardians for these two vulnerable children has meant that she has first hand experience and passion for seeing children placed in families. she understands the life changing benefits that children living in a families have over their institutionalised counterparts. Lalasoa brings to the board her passionate commitment to bring foster care to Madagascar, her compassionate heart, her vast experience and knowledge of the needs and rights of children, and her unwavering faith.
Lanto has a masters degree in social work and worked in the field of Child Protection before joining our team. His passion for his work comes from a God-given heart for the children of Madagascar and a desire to protect their rights. His training and knowledge of social work and the operational development of NGOs means that he has been invaluable in helping us implement policies and procedures, that will lay the foundation for our future growth. He is President of the National Association of Professional Social Workers (GTSM) as well as Director on the board of the International Foster Care Organisation (IFCO). His excellent communication skills enable him to make accurate assessments of families in crisis and his insight, intuition and advice is second to none.
He brings to the team his heart for the children of Madagascar, his training and knowledge of social work, his managerial skills, his excellent communication and people skills.
As a qualified social worker and previous business manager, Mamy brings her excellent social work and management skills to the team. She has lead a number of projects for Fam in recent years: our covid pregnant women project, in which we took all the homeless pregnant ladies from the street and supported them to live in community, and currently she is helping to manage our new WEEP project, which involves the economic empowerment of mothers at risk.
A qualified social worker, with experience of helping women who live on the street, Tsanta is currently managing our WEEP project (Women’s Economic Empowerment Project). She brings to the team her commitment to the cause of preventing child abandonment due to poverty, her daily dedication and hard work and passion to see families lifted out of dangerous poverty.
Malala has a degree in social sciences and development and recently joined the team as a social worker in charge of family placements and foster care. Previously, she worked as a psychosocial counsellor on inclusion, employability and economic empowerment of people with disabilities. As a social worker with experience in psychosocial support, she is responsible for the technical and practical aspects of foster care. Her sense of ethics in social work and the placement of children in a family environment (foster care/TAIZA) enables Fam to carry out activities such as identifying future foster families or trusted families, etc. She also brings with her, her understanding of the importance of inclusion in all aspects of the work.
Since graduating, Felana has worked in monitoring, evaluation and learning in the charity sector. Before working with FAM, she worked for another humanitarian NGO as a MEAL officer and learned all the skills needed to record, manage and learn from data. She brings to FAM her experience of monitoring, recording and evaluating projects to help learning and promote development.
Iony is a qualified accountant, and manages all of Famadagascar’s account. She is also very helpful in forecasting and project planning. She brings to the team her friendly personality, flexible attitude and eye for accounting detail.
Jhonny has worked in management for a number of years and is fluent in four languages. He was president of a number of social societies at university. He brings to the board his wealth of practical experience in how things work in Madagascar, his natural leadership abilities, boundless energy, jovial and positive personality, and his ability to fix almost anything that is broken.
Ravo, a young mum and scout leader for many years, has a heart for children, she has a heart to see them in safely cared for in families. Her dream for many years was to be involved in caring for vulnerable children. She is involved in community visits to women in crisis. She brings to the board her warm heart, compassion for children, sense of humour, administrative skills, and wonderful smile.
Marie has been a respected and valued member of her local community and church all her life. She is a mother to four children and grandmother to four children, but she is also “a mother to many”. She has looked after children in need throughout her life, welcoming them into her own family, where they have found a sense of belonging which continues into adulthood. She is one of the unsung heroes of Madagascar, looking to God to provide all her needs, while she tirelessly reaches out to the needs of others.
Andry Razafindrabe was Head of Vision Valley Christian School in Tana for over 10 years. During that time, he helped lead, grow and establish the school, managing a cross cultural staff team. He has a big heart for Malagasy children, from all backgrounds. He is currently pastor of La Porte Church in Antananarivo. He brings to the board, his first-hand experience and knowledge of cross-cultural communication and leadership, his strong faith and his servant-hearted leadership qualities.
Julio Ramonjison was the deputy Director of a children’s centre in Madagascar for several years. He brings to the Famadagascar board his extensive experience and understanding of the current childcare system in Madagascar, including the challenges that families in Madagascar face. He supports children who have left centres in his local community, as well as struggling families. His strong faith in God as a loving Father underpins everything he does. He is currently working full time for La Porte church as a missionary.
Nathalie also works with a local church and supports local families who have been placed close by her. She also lives close to a maternity hospital where many of mums deliver their babies and can support them through this. She always goes the extra mile, volunteering her time and love to support women at their most vulnerable – ante and post natal.
Nathalie also works with a local church and supports local families who have been placed close by her. She also lives close to a maternity hospital where many of mums deliver their babies and can support them through this. She always goes the extra mile, volunteering her time and love to support women at their most vulnerable – ante and post natal.
Emile Ratsivongo is founder and CEO of Madagascar Professional Training Centre (MPTC) which was established in 2010. Before that he was Administration and Finance Officer of Vision Valley School. A man of vision, purpose and faith, with a broad skills set, he brings to the board his experience and skills in establishing and growing a professional organisation, building a cross-cultural team as well as accounts management and budgeting.
Zaka has been a board member since Famadagascar began and assisted in registering the NGO as an official Malagasy NGO. He lived in the UK for a number of years where he learnt English and supports the team with understanding cross-cultural differences. He is married with two girls and works as an estate manager in Antananarivo.