A Family Facing Drought in Southern Madagascar
In southern Madagascar, prolonged drought has robbed farmers of their crops and turned once-productive land dry and brown. Mary Satriazee lives in the village of Ambovombe with her family. She and her husband are smallholder farmers who once depended on their land to feed their household.
“My husband and I used to have farmland on which we were able to grow the food we needed to live, but due to the prolonged drought we had to sell the land,” Mary explains. The money from the sale helped the family survive for a time, but it also meant losing their primary source of food. Today, they rely on a very small plot around their home, where Mary’s husband grows a few crops by hand-watering. Even so, it is not enough to meet their family’s needs.
Finding Support and Nourishment
Mary and her husband are raising their children amid these challenges. “We had twelve children but sadly one died. We now have five daughters and six sons ranging in age from 6 to 25,” she says quietly. The family is also caring for their oldest daughter and her two young children who live with them.
Through a six‑month food assistance project facilitated by World Renew and a local church partner, Mary receives monthly support that includes staple food and a modest cash allowance. Despite the hardship she has endured, Mary feels deeply grateful. “People tell me that I am very fortunate to be a beneficiary of the project and I agree!” she says.
The support allows the family to eat more varied and nutritious meals and to cover some essential expenses. “I am so grateful to report that I am able to feed my family some complimentary and healthier foods to go with the rice, as well as pay some school fees for the younger children,” Mary shares. With tears of joy, she adds, “I could never have managed to care for my family without this [project] and without the support of my God. I praise him every day!”
Mary has even found practical uses for the sturdy bags the food is delivered in. “Our home is built of slats of wood and has a tin roof… Our home can be quite cold during the colder months,” she explains. The bags help block wind through the cracks in the walls, offering small but meaningful comfort.
Building Hope for the Future
Beyond meeting immediate needs, the project has opened the door to longer‑term resilience. Mary has joined a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) in her community. Members meet monthly, each contributing a small amount to a shared savings pool kept securely in a locked box. As the savings grow, members can take out low‑interest loans.
“I am happy I have joined a VSLA in my village,” Mary says. “The project has taught me how to save money by paying a small monthly fee into the locked box. If I have a plan to start a small business I can borrow from this fund. This gives me and my fellow villagers hope for a better future.”
Please continue to pray for rain in Madagascar and for families like Mary’s who face the ongoing impacts of drought. Thank you for standing with communities as they work toward a future marked by dignity, resilience, and hope.
