About Thrive Madagascar

Thrive Madagascar (formerly known as CSM) is a registered non-profit organisation  ACNC / ABN 89 130 675 893 and a Charitable Fundraising Authority CFN/23725. Operating in Antananarivo, we manage a wide range of sustainable development and humanitarian projects. Through direct, frontline work, Thrive Madagascar links those in need with people all over the world who wish to serve.

Madagascar, a third world country, experiences harsh difficulties – 75% of the population live in absolute poverty on less than $1.90 per day and only 13% of the population has access to electricity. 58% of 15-24 year olds have not completed primary education and only 4.83% of teenagers pursue higher education. 84 out of every 1,000 children die before the age of 5 from preventable and treatable diseases, the most common causes being lower respiratory infections, diarrhea, and malaria.

We are determined to change these statistics.

 

 Since I was 16, I have been inspired with visions of helping people get out of poverty. This led me to study at a Mission School in Queensland where I was trained in a variety of practical skills, including building and later on, nursing. After graduating in 2007, I spent a year in Madagascar as an intern with Teen Missions. I knew I could do something to help people transcend their suffering, but resources were very limited on the $50 per month allowance I earned. I wanted to use my entrepreneurial skills to set up an export/import business to start funding what would become Chosen Servant Ministries and later on Thrive Madagascar.

Brendan Singhdeo

Founder & President | Thrive Madagascar

Our mission

Our aim at Thrive Madagascar (TM) is to show the unconditional love of God in practical ways to the people of Madagascar. We believe that to the hungry this love looks like a good feed, to the homeless family it’s building them a home, to the uneducated it’s providing for their schooling, to the sick it’s giving medical care; this is who we are.

Our charity’s vision is to provide opportunity to Madagascar’s poorest people through education, health and business/vocational support. In addition to this, we aim to achieve a high level of global awareness of Madagascar’s complex needs and build effective partnerships with both locals and international organisations.

 

 

Our approach

We go into this nation in teams and work alongside the Malagasy people. The primary aim of our non-profit is to first build a relationship of trust with the people. From this foundation of friendship, our charity’s work flows in a way that empowers the local community, so rather than become dependent on us, they learn skills that will enable them to care for their own.

Thrive Madagascar strongly believes that most significant changes are achieved when locals themselves see the importance of proactive strategies. That is why our non-profit organization involves the people of Madagascar in all phases of our programs; planning, execution and upkeep. With our guidance, local communities not only recieve help, but also learn how to achieve successful outcomes independently.

We do not go into this nation to force our beliefs on them or tell them what they need. We go in humbly, willing to gain understanding of their culture, and passionate about sharing ours. Our charity’s main goal is to help the people of Madagascar in lasting ways that will see them into a prosperous and sustainable future.

 

Our team

Thrive’s team is comprised of individuals who every day work tirelessly and wholeheartedly to improve the lives of Malagasy people. Our staff praises and upholds Christian values such as love, compassion, kindness, respect and forgiveness. They are all humble and honest people who go above and beyond to ensure that Thrive’s projects run smoothly and efficiently. Our team has a strong focus on making all our projects self-sufficient and making beneficial impacts on local communities. Most of our staff are locals who work hands-on in Madagascar while our board members manage our charity’s work from overseas. We are very proud of our Thrive family in Madagascar and Australia!

Our goals

 Short-term goals:

  • Create a self-sufficient charity model at Soav and Tana, then take it to Thrive locations all over Madagascar.
  • Provide breakfast for up to 150 of the poorest kids every morning at our Living Centre (we currently host 40 children due to lack of funding).
  • There are currently over 120 children whose education is being sponsored through our charity’s KIDS IN SCHOOL program, yet every time we go to the communities, there are always more children that need to be added.
  • Implementation of community leadership programs in Tana and Soav.
  • To develop and implement a comprehensive community health program, starting in Tana and Soav, with a model that can be rolled out to other locations.

 Long-term goals:

  • 500 Thrive trained and supported children and family members in leadership positions by 2025, 1,000 children and family member in leadership positions by 2030.
  • Education and health services for 2,000 children by 2025, corresponding services for 4,000 children by 2030.
  • 10,000 ethical, committed leaders in politics, education, business, health, community and church positions by end of 2050.
  • Implement various initiatives to our non-profit in order to reduce the exploitation of children for sex and organ harvesting industries in Madagascar.
  • Provide environmental education to society: increase awareness, change attitudes, improve skills and create opportunities to become actively involved.

This is only a short summary of our charity’s plans for local communities in Madagascar. We aspire to do so much more, but we need YOUR help! 

GET INVOLVED

Timeline milestones

2008

Following a year internship with Teen Missions in Madagascar, Brendan Singhdeo, Founder & President returned to Australia and created the first Board with Theresa Singhdeo and Kathleen Khan.

2009

  • Took on three staff in Madagascar
  • Was given land
  • Started sponsoring the Kids in School project

2010

  • Set up a centre in Antananarivo (Tana) to keep records of our charity’s work in Madagascar, Africa
  • Undertook a tree planting initiative
  • Hosted first volunteer trip for three Australian women who ran programs on health and hygiene, distributed materials and medicine, and filmed the work of our non-profit organization in Madagascar
  • Brendan Singhdeo, Founder & President of Thrive Madagascar survived a serious road accident in Madagascar, which had a silver lining — it led to many publicity opportunities and public speaking engagements where he had the opportunity to share a message of hope out of tragedy, promoting our charity’s vision for the people of Madagascar

2011

  • Hired 9 staff members in Madagascar, all of whom had been trained by Teen Missions. Inspired by biblical principles of taking care of our family generously, we used a good Malagasy wage as the starting point then multiplied it by 2.5 so our staff would know in practical terms how much we value them and their work
  • Implemented a comprehensive staff training program into our non-profit, including Thrive Madagascar Code of Conduct
  • Rented a three-storey building in Tana and expanded Kids in School initiative (currently 120 children)
  • Built a school for 80 children in Soavinandirana and laid the foundations for the Children of the Light orphanage; a group of volunteer plumbers from Australia built a toilet block and our non-profit was able to purchase two carpentry machines to assist with construction
  • Established Emergency Relief Fund
  • Started conducting classes in English, computing and swimming
  • Thrive Madagascar started to draw a small allowance to cover some of the costs incurred

2012

  • Completed Children of the Light orphanage
  • Continued tree planting initiative and a garden was set up
  • Established Thrive Madagascar Environment initiative
  • Installed swing sets for children
  • Sponsored more children in the Kids in School initiative
  • More volunteers visit and more sponsors are gained to support our non-profit’s work in Madagascar

2013

  • Built a well, funded by the Crossing, with additional funds provided for a second well
  • Developed relationship with Northside Community Church who sent volunteers and provided major funding for many of Thrive Madagascar’s projects
  • Built a kitchen, storage room and staff housing at Soavinandriana
  • Received a grant of over $19,000 from the Australian Government to co-fund The Youth Centre

2014

  • Continued construction on The Youth Centre
  • Established The Living Centre in Tana (funded by the Ark at Norah Head) to feed our sponsored children and provide a range of educational and vocational activities
  • Conducted classes in English, scripture, computing and sewing, with planned classes in occupational therapy
  • The number of volunteers and sponsors continues to grow
  • More staff are hired to manage our programs
  • Built a basketball court at Soavinandirana
  • All the sponsored children pass their school exams!
  • Received $3,000 to purchase a cement mixer as part of Northside’s substantial donation
  • Submitted application for a $40,000 Australian Government grant, spoke to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop who is aware of our application

2015

  • Further development of our non-profit’s organisational structure in the areas of finance, human resources and marketing to support the continued expansion of front line work in Madagascar.
  • Board members took on an increased role in ensuring Thrive Madagascar’s stability, accountability and growth.
  • Registered with Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission as a Registered Charity
  • Granted fundraising approval by NSW government
  • Awarded Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status by Australian Tax Office
  • Continued skill development for Malagasy staff through volunteer trips focused on education and management.
  • Ongoing progress on Youth Centre construction.
  • Dental clinics provided to many poor people who cannot afford dental care.
  • Expansion of Kids in School and Mummas off the Streets projects.

2016

  • Refinement of Thrive strategy and appointment of expert advisors in Health, Education and Vocational Training
  • Human Resources review and training for all Malagasy staff, and new staff members recruited
  • Partnership with Rotary North Gosford to organise container of vital health, construction, business and educational supplies
  • Partnership with established charity travel group, HUMA
  • Surf Trips ‘volunteerism’ project
  • Liaison with Madagascar government departments to obtain approval as Consignee for Rotary shipping container
  • Continued volunteer trips with churches, community groups and businesses with targeted skill development programs for our Malagasy staff and clients
  • Youth Centre reconfigured as Soav Multi-Function Community Centre is approaching completion
  • Liaison with Australian schools in planning immersion trips for senior students
  • Commencement of Community Rural Health Project in Ambohidanerana

 

Data Sources