We’re thrilled to share some exciting news from our charity partner, Money for Madagascar (MfM).

For many Malagasy people, education is their only path out of extreme poverty. Yet, something as simple as a lack of clean water for drinking and handwashing, or the absence of nutritious food, can prevent children from accessing the education they deserve. That’s why we proudly support MfM’s Education for Life programme—because education should be a right, not a privilege.

But MfM’s impact goes beyond the classroom. Their work extends to teaching sustainable farming practices and protecting Madagascar’s vital rainforests, ensuring that both people and nature can thrive together.

Now, we’re excited to share their latest initiative: The Big Give Green Match Fund. Running from 22nd to 29th April, this campaign will double every donation made during this period—so a gift of £100 instantly becomes £200, and so on.

To take advantage of this incredible opportunity to maximize your impact, donations must be made within this one-week window.
Together, we can help transform lives and protect Madagascar’s future.

Click here to visit the campaign page

But before you double your donation, it’s important to understand the crucial work that this charity delivers and how your doubled donation will help the people and wildlife of Madagascar. And in the charity’s words “the Malagasy rainforest and by extension, every person on the planet.”

This year, MfM’s The Big Give Green Match Fund is dedicated to supporting the Resilient Forests and Livelihoods (RFL) programme, which focuses on equipping Malagasy communities with the training and knowledge needed to protect and expand their forests and natural resources. More importantly, it empowers them to improve their livelihoods and living standards, creating a sustainable future for both people and the environment.

This work is truly transformative. In Madagascar, 80% of the population depends on agriculture as their primary source of income, with the majority living on or below the global poverty line of just £1.73 a day. This level of poverty is a constant struggle, impacting families, especially children, and creating barriers to essential opportunities for growth.

Despite Madagascar’s status as a ‘carbon sink’—one of only four countries capable of absorbing more carbon than it emits—the impacts of climate change here are severe. Droughts, floods, and extreme rainfall destroy crops, and erode fertile soil at an alarming rate, leaving it almost impossible to regenerate within the human timeline.

In this challenging environment, the temptation to clear forests for farming is overwhelming. Without viable alternatives, many Malagasy people turn to deforestation to create more land for agriculture, putting both their livelihoods and the delicate ecosystems at risk

How RFL Makes a Difference

The RFL programme directly addresses these interconnected challenges, providing communities with access to sustainable sources of income while simultaneously protecting the vital forests they depend on. This dual approach benefits both people and wildlife, fostering a future where Madagascar’s natural heritage can thrive.

A shining example of this approach is the Youths for Lemurs project, which has been empowering young people in Madagascar since 2021. In partnership with Madagasikara Voakajy, MfM’s initiative aims to reduce the need for destructive farming practices, such as slash-and-burn techniques, which endanger both lemurs and the forest.

The lemur population has plummeted by 95% over the past 17 years, with fewer ring-tailed lemurs remaining in the wild than in zoos. The restoration of their habitats is now more crucial than ever. Youths for Lemurs educates young people in sustainable farming practices and has already trained 239 youth in Eastern Madagascar. Through these efforts, they have not only enhanced agricultural yields but also introduced the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants and promoted ethical marketing practices.

These youth are also spreading their knowledge. They’ve led 356 awareness sessions and 19 reforestation activities, reaching over 4,700 individuals in their communities.

Through projects like Youths for Lemurs, RFL is empowering Malagasy people to make a difference. They are helping themselves, their communities, and the unique wildlife and ecosystems that make Madagascar so special.

Visit MfM’s The Big Give Green Match Fund to learn more about how you can contribute to this life-changing work and help create a sustainable future for Madagascar.