Empowering Sustainable Change
I’ve been privileged to volunteer with Friends of Madagascar Mission (FOMM) for nearly five years. FOMM is a volunteer organization that gives 100% of designated funds to its eight mission and humanitarian programs in Madagascar that include supporting 67 full-time evangelists, prison ministry outreaches in 36 of the 82 Malagasy prisons, digging and repairing water wells, supporting young women to complete their education and go on to vocational or higher education, and schools for sight and hearing-impaired children.
Abbey Crew and Christian Luken hand a small hand-made gift to a delighted child.
The discovery of water has become easier since FOMM’s partner organization, the Madagascar Water Project, acquired a drilling rig. The impossibility of hand-digging through solid granite rock has now become a reality by being replaced with new and powerful tools that can locate water within deep fractures and fissures tens of meters deep. A recent well in Betroka located water at 27m deep, providing 3,000 liters of water per hour to a previously water-starved community.
FOMM is delighted to be instrumental in bringing pure and fresh water to villages in the drought-stricken southern region.
The Madagascar Water Project completes wells sustainably, with careful planning of locations and protection against future mismanagement or damage. In addition, the Madagascar Water Project well-management team visits wells regularly to ensure that maintenance is done and locals are trained over time to care for well installations.
During August 2024 I had the privilege of going on a 10-day first trip to Madagascar. It was my first (and definitely not my last!) visit to this island nation that is mostly known for its lemurs and other wildlife, but is home to 30 million vibrant, talented and creative people. Unfortunately, history also tells a dark story of colonial oppression and corruption that has left this resource-rich but poorly managed country locked in poverty with seemingly no way out.
Sadly, seeing children pick food out of garbage heaps is a common sight in Madagascar. After a while you realize that other than the very small percentage of rich people are the poor, the very poor, the extremely poor – and the destitute.
There were eight team members on our trip, with seven from the USA and myself from Australia, as well as four Malagasy staff members who travelled with us. The team was led by FOMM founder, Rev. David Lerseth, who has made frequent trips to Madagascar since he established FOMM in 2009. It was a “whirlwind” trip, where we covered over 800km (on seriously potholed roads!) visiting prisons, and meeting many of the people and programs supported by FOMM.
The face of poverty. A child beggar outside a roadside stop.
The whole family begs for food from tourists and travelers.
Most people in Madagascar survive at a subsistence level, with enormous challenges at every strata of society. The moment you drive out of the modern Ivato Airport in the capital, Antananarivo, evidence of poverty hits you in the face. You are met with bad roads and infrastructure conditions, massive overcrowding, run-down buildings and people taking goods to market in wagons, sometimes drawn by zebu, the local beast of burden, and a thick blanket of smoke hanging over the city from inefficient forms of fire.
Our van filled with FOMM team members, travelling more than 800 km through the center of Madagascar. Front center is Rabezato, a FOMM team member who is a young law student, sponsored by FOMM, with a vision to advocate for prisoners and poor people. Rabezato is fluent in all 10 Malagasy dialects, as well as English.
The daily struggle for survival amongst a people locked into poverty, still using pre-industrial age technology to eke out a living.
Moving between cities, conditions worsen, where people live in countryside villages and eke out a living through farming and other trade. Driving through villages, one sees thousands of children loitering around markets with very little sporting or community facilities to keep them occupied and stimulated during school holidays.
Street scene in the capital city, Antananarivo
Overall, I had the impression of going back to pre-industrialized Europe where each farmer did what they could for their families to survive at a basic level, with few opportunities to move forward towards industrialization, sustainable development and hope of a better future as a developed nation.
Culture Shock
On our team were two talented and compassionate young leaders from the USA: Abbey Crew and Christian Luken, who experienced these often-shocking challenges first-hand. They share their impressions and experiences, which reveal the impact of their visit to Madagascar and the deep realization that even small efforts can bring about meaningful change.
“I thought I knew what to expect, but nothing could prepare me for the culture shock,” admits Christian, whose grandfather (Rev. David Lerseth) founded Friends of Madagascar Mission in 2009. Christian shares how the trip opened his eyes to the country’s deep needs and how vital mission and humanitarian work is in alleviating those challenges. While the extreme poverty, poor infrastructure (the roads have massive potholes, making driving very dangerous), and desperate conditions were tough to witness, Christian emphasized the warmth and kindness of the Malagasy people.”
“They have so little,” continues Christian, “yet they smile, laugh, and sing with so much joy. In contrast, in America we have the best roads in the world, some of the biggest stores and we are blessed with abundance. However, in Madagascar this is not true. I would love to go back to Madagascar and try to make a difference. I love it there.”
As a sports lover and aspiring sports commentator, Christian Luken quickly found a way of engaging with the children at a conference by organizing a team game.
Abbey Crew connects with Malagasy children in Fianarantsoa, handing out small gifts.
Abbey, another young leader on the trip, was similarly moved by the disparities she witnessed. Coming from a small town in the USA, she found the experience eye-opening. “The first night, a little girl ran up to our van begging for food or money. That was really hard for me,” she recalled. “Seeing the suffering of so many children, in particular, left a lasting impact on me. I have a soft spot for kids and seeing all these kids was really difficult for me. It motivates me to continue helping because these kids deserve better.”
Christian agreed. He said, “Some of the things that I saw were heartbreaking. Seeing starving children digging out the trash that was infested with feces was awful. Seeing starving dogs running around slim as a twig was terrible. And just looking around, I realized how beautiful the country really was and how many natural resources they actually had. If the government would sit down and actually help the country, it would be thriving. I just wanted to do something about it. Which is why I’m trying to spread information to the younger generation about mission and humanitarian work which is so important in today’s society.”
Hope Lutheran School in Antananarivo provides children from the local slums their only meal of the day, as well as a quality education that will empower them to progress through high school and on
Small Efforts Create Change
Both Christian and Abbey recognized that small efforts can still create a ripple effect of change. Christian recounted a story he heard while in Madagascar about a man throwing starfish back into the ocean one by one, despite the overwhelming number washed up on the on the beach, doomed to die. “We may not be able to help everyone,” Christian said, “but making a difference for even one person matters.” Abbey echoed this sentiment, likening the mission to the parable told by Jesus of the good shepherd going back for one lost sheep while leaving the 99 behind. Abbey says, “Helping just one person during our trip means the mission was successful.”
The work of FOMM was particularly impactful in the prisons, where volunteers handed out bread and shared Christian teachings with the inmates. Christian recalled how the prisoners sang hymns with so much passion, an experience that brought tears to his eyes. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said, reflecting on how much the people appreciated the mission’s efforts.
Friends of Madagascar Mission funds Christian outreach programs in 36 of the 82 prisons in Madagascar, with the goal of having both missions and a range of humanitarian programs in every prison. These programs include literacy, nutrition, vocational training, legal advocacy and preparing prisoners for post-prison life.
Abbey highlighted the need for continued efforts in prison ministries, suggesting that more could be done to teach prisoners skills that would help them reintegrate into society after their release. “These people need opportunities to improve their lives, and teaching them skills could provide a path forward,” she explained.
From left: Madam Lalao (financial advisor to FOMM Madagascar), Rev, David Lerseth (founder, CEO and Executive Director of FOMM), Mr. Jean Claude (attorney and chairperson for the humanitarian division of the Prison Ministry Madagascar), and Lori Krei (FOMM’s Administrative Director).
Young Leaders Making a Difference
For these young leaders, witnessing the stark inequalities between Madagascar and their home countries deeply shaped their understanding of global poverty and the need for Gospel and humanitarian missions. Christian shared how seeing children digging through trash for food and the general lack of basic necessities like clean water made him realize just how fortunate he was. “We take so much for granted in America,” he noted. “Going to Madagascar made me more aware of how important it is to help those in need.”
While both Christian and Abbey felt strongly about the importance of their work, they also acknowledge the challenges of sustaining and growing such missions. Christian emphasized the importance of strong leadership in the future, hoping that the next generation of FOMM leaders would have the same dedication as his grandfather.
Abbey, on the other hand, worried about whether younger generations are prepared to take on leadership roles. “We’re a pretty selfish generation,” she admitted, “but if we open our minds and understand how much these people are suffering, we can make a real difference.”
Despite the challenges, both Christian and Abbey are committed to continuing their work in Madagascar. They believe that the key to long-term success is building a foundation that includes empowering local contacts, funding, and an ongoing commitment to supporting and empowering the Malagasy people.
Christian especially felt motivated by the kindness and intelligence of the people he met, including their translator Luther, Lanto, Rabezato, and other local leaders who are fully committed to making a sustainable difference to the people.
Abbey Crew explores local culture by grabbing a traditional spear.
Their message to other young people considering getting involved in humanitarian missions is clear: “Just do it,” Abbey urged. “We have the resources and means to help, and knowing that people are suffering and dying is heartbreaking.”
Christian added that young people need to go on genuine mission trips: “Not just for entertainment, but to understand the lives and struggles of the people they are trying to help. To do this requires an open mind, empathy and a lot of patience. It needs to be a trip where you meet the people, discuss with them their life situations and what they want to do to help their own people. And why not begin to supporting a mission or humanitarian program now? Maybe not with great amounts of money, but starting the discipline of supporting programs in a small way that can grow later on.”
The FOMM team visited the Antananarivo language school run by Luther (Jeannot Luther Razafindrabefitory), FOMM’s official translator and interpreter. From left to right: Andrea Crew, Pastor Sue Gunderson, Lori Krei, David Lerseth, Luther, Abbey Crew, Christian Luken and Rev. Lee Laaveg.
Through their experiences, Christian and Abbey’s stories shine a light on the importance of youth involvement in Gospel outreach and humanitarian efforts. Abbey says, “ Seeing the poverty in person is the only motivation I would need to keep supporting this mission. Seeing all those kids on the street and the sickness and poverty ravaging the country was devastating. Anyone who saw that with their own eyes wouldn’t need any more motivation to help them.”
For both Christian and Abbey, their mission education trip to Madagascar not only impacted the lives of those they met but also left an indelible mark on their own understanding of global inequality. They both agreed that in a world where so many are in need, even the smallest acts of kindness and service can lead to transformative change.
Abbey concludes with a message for young people are considering getting involved in humanitarian or mission work, especially in challenging environments like Madagascar.
“Even though it seems tough, do it. We have the resources and means to help these people and they need it. Knowing that places like Madagascar where and people are dying and suffering is heartbreaking. They don’t have a warm home or a loving family that they can come home to at night like we do. We can make that possible with a small effort if we work together as a team.”
10 Fascinating Facts About Madagascar
A trip to Madagascar would not be worthwhile without seeing quirky and unique lemurs (above), who entertain visitors to the Lemur Park location with constant antics and remarkable agility across branches of high tree tops.
A nation of incredible biodiversity and cultural richness, Madagascar is also a country facing severe poverty and inequality. With a population of 30 million, many communities live with limited access to education, healthcare, and basic necessities. Here are 10 facts about Madagascar:
- Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, covering an area of 587,000 square kilometers.
- The island is home to around 30 million people, with many communities living in rural areas.
- Over 90% of Madagascar’s wildlife, including lemurs, are found nowhere else in the world.
- The island’s baobab trees, often called “the tree of life,” can store water during dry spells.
- Madagascar’s official languages are Malagasy and 10 dialects; about a quarter of the people speak French and about 10% speak English.
- The country is a biodiversity hotspot, boasting 5% of the world’s plant and animal species.
- Over 75% of the Malagasy population relies on agriculture for their livelihood.
- Madagascar is one of the world’s poorest nations, with a significant portion of the population living in extreme poverty.
- Vanilla is a key export of Madagascar, and the island produces over 80% of the world’s supply.
- Despite the challenges, the Malagasy people are known for their resilience, rich traditions, and strong sense of community.
Get Involved!
Help support FOMM’s projects! Visit madagascarmission.org
