Meaningful family trip to Madagascar (volunteering)

Hello, we’d like to travel as a family to Madagascar (2 parents, 2 kids aged 10 and 12). A first trip over 15 years ago completely amazed and moved me with its beauty, kindness, and life experiences—but also its poverty and hardship. That’s why I think it’s possible to introduce our kids to this island while also doing something useful through volunteering. The window is short—15 days in March 2020—which means avoiding the north and east of the island due to cyclones and focusing on the south instead. Some ecovolunteering projects exist online, but the cost is sometimes prohibitive, and kids are rarely accepted. Do you have any ideas or contacts? Thanks in advance!

Hello. Between Antsirabe and Fianarantsoa, you can stay in Tanamomby. It’s a highland village that welcomes tourists in rooms reserved with several families. Alfred, the local association’s guide, speaks French perfectly and shows you around the area and village life. Depending on your skills, you’ll be asked to do a little volunteering—we painted school tables. It’s an extra opportunity for encounters and sharing. We stayed there in 2011 and returned in 2017 with our daughter and her partner.

Tanamomby remains in our hearts. If this matches what you’re looking for, visit the website acles.fr. And if you’d like more details, I’d be happy to answer. Happy travels!

Personally, I went with the Franco-Belgian association Service Volontaire International. Great local partner with solid follow-up and quality pre-departure prep.

Just a heads-up—it’s a volunteering association, not alternative tourism.

Website: www.servicevolontaire.org