Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. The need that accompanies such poverty touched the heart of the mission organisation African Evangelical Fellowship, with the result that in 1987 a surgical hospital was established in Mandritsara, North Central Madagascar. The Good News Hospital (Hopitaly Vaovao Mahafaly, or HVM) is the sole provider of surgical services in an area the size of Wales.

The hospital in its turn established a school – the Good News School (Ecole Bonne Nouvelle, or EBN). Initially, the intention was to provide quality education (in French) for the children of the Malagasy hospital staff, many of whom come from elsewhere in Madagascar. The school began with an entry level primary class, and has added a class each year as the founding cohort has progressed. The aim is to take the children through to tertiary level. (Local schools, poorly resourced, finish short of this level of educational attainment.)

Although the Good News School has a Christian base, it has wider appeal. Because of its commitment to academic excellence, it has attracted students from diverse religious backgrounds.

So far, the students of the Good News School have achieved excellent results, with many testing in the top 80% of the whole Francophone world. But from the start, suitable premises have been hard to find. Until recently, EBN rented two buildings in Mandritsara. However, when the landlord requested the school move, relocation to a hastily renovated house owned by the hospital was undertaken. But, at this site the hospital has land, enough on which to build the school sketched below. We estimate that this building can be constructed for just $NZ500,000. And it’s our vision to see the money raised, the school built. You can help…