Across Madagascar’s remote communities, a quiet and powerful transformation is underway. Led by the Time + Tide Foundation, the Female Empowerment Programme is nurturing a generation of young girls and women, helping them step boldly into futures full of possibility.
Luxury meets meaning on Miavana, where every guest steps into a story much larger than their own.
In this corner of the world, education is not only a privilege, it is a lifeline. For girls growing up in rural Madagascar, staying in school is a struggle against countless obstacles: poverty, early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and societal expectations that weigh heavy on young shoulders. Without education, these girls face a future where opportunity feels like a distant dream. But here, dreams are being reimagined on Miavana and in the neighbouring communities in which the Foundation operates.
The Time + Tide Foundation’s Female Empowerment Programme begins with small steps with a weekly Girls Club. In these circles of learning and laughter, young girls are taught to believe in themselves. They practice French literacy, sharpen their academic skills, and most importantly, grow in self-worth. These moments of encouragement ripple outward, changing the course of their lives.
Each year, new voices join the journey. There are new mentors who guide with wisdom, brilliantly creative and ambitious students, and women reclaiming the paths they once thought lost. For the students, language is at the heart of their journey. Many girls in Madagascar face challenges in secondary school due to limited proficiency in French, which is the language of learning. To bridge this gap, the programme has dedicated lessons in grammar, comprehension, and writing to help them gain fluency, ensuring they can fully engage with their studies. Recently, digital learning has brought new possibilities, with tablets and interactive apps making education more accessible and engaging.
Yet, this story does not belong only to the young. In recent years, the programme has expanded to include a pilot group of women who were forced to leave school early due to circumstances beyond their control. Through workshops in financial literacy, business management, and language skills, they are rediscovering the power of knowledge. With mentorship and support, many have achieved some form of financial independence, and have become role models in their community.
Here, on the edges of the Indian Ocean, education is more than learning, it is transformation. With each lesson, each step forward, the cycle of opportunity grows stronger for girls and women across the country. A new future is unfolding. For our guests, this story is both humbling and inspiring and their visit to Miavana helps fuel these life-changing efforts. We invite you to be part of the ripples of change that stretch far beyond our island.
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