In 2021 we said farewell to our beloved Hardy Rahoby Wilkinson who was an inspirational social worker, an advocate for the rights of girls and a mother figure to thousands of Malagasy children whom she took under her wing.

By the time she retired in 2007, Hardy had looked after and nurtured thousands of disadvantaged children in Madagascar. From providing a stable and caring environment for hundreds of abandoned street children, to saving many more young girls from a pointless and degrading life imprisoned for crimes they did not commit, her work gave a second chance in life for the poorest in society. Through her work at Akany Avoko, in the Scouts and the boarding school in Faratsiho, Hardy pioneered work in children’s and women’s rights in Madagascar for over 40 years.

As a living legacy to Hardy, we have now launched a youth mentoring programme which embodies Hardy’s values. Like Hardy we want to show that by believing in every young person, showing them love and investing in their skills, they can reach their potential to become kind, caring citizens who serve their community. This new programme will benefit young people in Money for Madagascar's  'Education for Life Programme' and 'Vulnerable Children Programme', including graduates from the Akany Avoko centres where Hardy worked as a social worker and community leader for decades.

 The Mentoring Centre Programme is being led by inspiring women, who were once students of Hardy and who now run impressive programmes to help the next generation of Malagasy youth to overcome challenges and reach success. 

Ony Rakotoarivelo is one such leader. She is the Director of the NGO Ankizy Gasy who support hundreds of vulnerable children through child sponsorship programmes and school canteens in a number of schools in the outskirts of the capital, around Ambohidratrimo. 

The Mentoring centre will also be supported by other graduates who feel a debt of gratitude to Hardy and who now want to give back in her memory. These include Mme Hanta who grew up at Akany Avoko and who is now a qualified and experienced social worker, who has recently taken over as the Director of Akany Avoko Ambohidratrimo.

The most recent prodigy of Hardy to add their skills and passion to this project is Fenosoa Mauricienne. 

Aged 7 Fenosoa was placed in the care of Akany Avoko because her mum had been incarcerated and there was no one to care for her. For 17 years Fenosoa visited her mum in prison, promising that she would study hard and would one day get her mum out of prison and get a job to provide for them both. This year all the staff who have cared for Fenosoa at Akany Avoko and Ankizy Gasy were delighted to celebrate Fenosoa’s university graduation. The proudest person in attendance was Fenosoa’s mum, who is now free from prison and reunited with her daughter. Fenosoa now works with Ankizy Gasy at the new Mentoring Centre project to support & inspire brave students like herself to fulfil their dreams.

Donations to this fund will help pay for staff like Fenosoa to run this Mentoring Centre... to continue the legacy of Hardy... so that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds can reach their potential and to become the community leaders of tomorrow.