Updates

Fall Newsletter 2023
September 27, 2023 — Celebrating 15 years! It's been a difficult year for the people of Madagascar as the price of rice has tripled along with many of the necessities of life. As a result, MSP began feeding breakfast to all staff and students as well as the regular lunch. This kept students energetic and learning throughout the school day....

Kathy's 2023 Trip to Madagascar
April 5, 2023 — Finally a Chance to get Back to Madagascar! Two years of pandemic and then catching Covid myself kept me from Madagascar for too long! Our last volunteer had to leave after only two weeks, (in March 2020) as the airports closed. I’m happy to say that the team there is doing an excellent job and I had only positive...

Tenaquip's 2022 Graduates!
November 28, 2022 — Our first graduating class was a group of six brave students. It's wonderful that so many now, are able to move towards a promising future for themselves and their families. Thank you for making this possible. We wish them the best of luck as they write their school and state exams!

Virtual Spring Event 2022
November 28, 2022 — Our first event of 2022 was a very successful evening on Zoom on May 12th. Kathy Lucking, our Founder and Executive Director, gave a wonderful overview of recent activities at the school and exciting plans going forward. There were short videos from the project and a Q&A period to end the evening. If you missed the event, you can find...

Spring Newsletter 2021
July 9, 2021 — Read our latest exciting news here! Spring Newsletter (5.56 MB)

Spring Virtual Extravaganza 2021!
April 13, 2021 — NEWS FLASH! NEWS FLASH! Our hard-working Board is busy planning a Spring Virtual Extravaganza! Stay tuned for further details on how to get an invitation to this special Zoom gathering! An evening of presentations and Q&A and a surprise or two. Hear the latest news from Kathy Lucking, recent volunteers, alumni and others... (Hint: there'll be two opportunities in May.)...

A Fundraising event for Madagascar School project (MSP)
February 22, 2021 — A Fundraising event for Madagascar School Project Certificate Training Course: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) (all proceeds going to MSP) Julie Slater, a long-time friend and supporter of the MSP, is a qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Teacher and she is offering to teach the course and give the proceeds to the MSP. Have you ever wanted to learn how to...

Fall Update 2020
October 25, 2020 — While much of the world has been in holding pattern since March, things have not come to a total standstill at the Project. Check out our facebook page for pictures from each month! In early days, our man-of-all-repairs, M. Feno, oversaw work on a new experimental toilet set-up. More bathroom facilities are needed for the number of students and staff at...

Plant a Tree for Earth Day!
April 21, 2020 — Join us all day on Wesnesday, April 22, 2020 to contribute to our project to provide Moringa Trees for the school and the families of the students. $5 provides one Moringa Tree: also known as The Tree of Life because of its many health benefits. We will use them as a water purifier at the school and give the seed...

Medical Mission
November 28, 2019 — A very capable and generous group of 9 medical professionals arrived at the Ivato Airport in Antananarivo between the 16th to the 19th of November, congregating there from countries far and wide. Their mission - to treat as many people as they could at Tenaquip School and in the community in the rural highlands of Madagascar. Dr. Wen Shu, of...


Meritorious Service Medal
February 9, 2019 — Kathy Lucking has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for her work in Madagascar. The Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division) enable the Governor General, on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen and All Canadians, to recognize outstanding accomplishments that set an example for others to follow and bring benefit to our country. Meritorious Service Decorations are given to recognize contributions...

Permaculture Project
October 7, 2018 — In the early summer of 2018, Lukas Url, a Swiss permaculture consultant, returned to Sekoly Tenaquip, to continue work on the school’s permaculture gardens. With the willing assistance of students, staff and parents, Lukas was able to complete work on the terraces, swales and water retention basins that he began last year. This is a model project, demonstrating the efficacy...

First Impressions January
February 1, 2018 — I arrived to find the school community strong, and vibrant. There is an atmosphere of possibility and excitement in the air. Our soccer team won the championship in January for the whole of our school board district. They await the playoffs with other school areas. Teachers are keen to share the changes they have made to the way they are...

On My Way to Madagascar
January 14, 2018 — I leave Montreal on Monday January 15th 2018, for a two month trip to the project. I am really looking forward to being there for the 4th trip of the stART International team who will do some more teacher training with our teachers at Sekoly Tenaquip. I also look forward to working with our school committee, meeting some people from...

What a difference a day makes!
December 22, 2017 — In a single day this past summer, 44 online donors gave enough money to buy two solar ovens for our school on Madagascar. The ovens can cook meals for the teachers and staff without using firewood. This saves both money and trees. See the ovens in action here: This amazing fundraising campaign was made possible by Givesome, an...


New Developments - Spring 2017
April 16, 2017 — Bringing New Life to Teaching and the Land A year has gone by since I worked with the faculty at MSP and it is amazing to see the burgeoning growth that has occurred at the school in this short period of time. Kathy Lucking, the founder and director of the school, dropped by my office today to share the many...


Children Helping Children... To be Continued
November 11, 2016 — Over the past couple of years I've had the chance to communicate with schools all over the world, thanks to this webpage and our Facebook Page. Conscientious teachers who want their children to really understand Madagascar have helped their children to learn about life here, and then have raised money to actually act out of the compassion they feel and do...

First trip of 2016- Jan. 11
January 11, 2016 — So, I'm just getting ready to head to the airport and take off for Madagascar for another almost three months. I'm very excited and feel ready for another chance to work with the students and staff at our growing school. One is never quite sure what the opportunities and challenges will be presented, but it's always exciting and enriching.We are...

The First Waldorf School in Madagascar
December 10, 2015 — In January 2016, Warren Lee Cohen Codirector of the Rudolf Steiner Centre and Toronto Waldorf School parent will be travelling to Madagascar to support the first Waldorf school in this island nation. Warren will be bringing with him 25 years of experience as a Waldorf educator as well as education resources for the faculty of this school including beeswax crayons...


Autumn 2014: Where we're at and where we're going
November 1, 2014 — Volunteers are currently working in Madagascar, helping by teaching English, computers, and teaching strategies to our teachers, art to our students, consulting on beginning a laying hens project, and helping with Toonie Twinning letters. Helena and Eleanor are both retired principal/teachers, and Sydney is a young woman with a keen desire to help and great artistic ability. Sydney also took...