I left Madagascar my home country in 2008 and I did not go back until 2013 I
2008 and I did not go back until 2013 I
2008 and I did not go back until 2013 I didn’t see my village my house and my
didn’t see my village my house and my
didn’t see my village my house and my family for five years and as you could
family for five years and as you could
family for five years and as you could imagine when I finally went back home I
imagine when I finally went back home I
imagine when I finally went back home I was shocked not only because of the
was shocked not only because of the
was shocked not only because of the changes my siblings grown up my parents
changes my siblings grown up my parents
changes my siblings grown up my parents older but I felt my eye suddenly open
older but I felt my eye suddenly open
older but I felt my eye suddenly open and I saw my country in a whole
and I saw my country in a whole
and I saw my country in a whole different way and I am sure that anyone
different way and I am sure that anyone
different way and I am sure that anyone that has lived abroad knows at least a
that has lived abroad knows at least a
that has lived abroad knows at least a little about this feeling Madagascar is
little about this feeling Madagascar is
little about this feeling Madagascar is one of the poorest country on Earth the
one of the poorest country on Earth the
one of the poorest country on Earth the World Bank estimates that 92 percent of
World Bank estimates that 92 percent of
World Bank estimates that 92 percent of the population lives on less than $2 a
the population lives on less than $2 a
the population lives on less than $2 a day and I knew that when I left but when
day and I knew that when I left but when
day and I knew that when I left but when I came back I saw it I felt at the
I came back I saw it I felt at the
I came back I saw it I felt at the moment I left the airport and I could
moment I left the airport and I could
moment I left the airport and I could see the straddle on the face of people
see the straddle on the face of people
see the straddle on the face of people working in the streets in fact in my
working in the streets in fact in my
working in the streets in fact in my native language Malagasy we have an
native language Malagasy we have an
native language Malagasy we have an expression that describes very well what
expression that describes very well what
expression that describes very well what I saw it says new Han and Ronnie that
I saw it says new Han and Ronnie that
I saw it says new Han and Ronnie that they have Narayan peat which means still
they have Narayan peat which means still
they have Narayan peat which means still searching for today’s food when it’s
searching for today’s food when it’s
searching for today’s food when it’s already tomorrow
80% of the Malagasy population is
80% of the Malagasy population is dependent on subsistence farming which
dependent on subsistence farming which
dependent on subsistence farming which means they consume everything they grow
means they consume everything they grow
means they consume everything they grow so they cannot make any money from
so they cannot make any money from
so they cannot make any money from selling it and in addition to that 46%
selling it and in addition to that 46%
selling it and in addition to that 46% of the population cannot read or write
of the population cannot read or write
of the population cannot read or write that’s almost half of the population and
that’s almost half of the population and
that’s almost half of the population and this high rate of illiteracy is harming
this high rate of illiteracy is harming
this high rate of illiteracy is harming everyone in Madagascar so let’s say two
everyone in Madagascar so let’s say two
everyone in Madagascar so let’s say two young people a farmer’s son and daughter
young people a farmer’s son and daughter
young people a farmer’s son and daughter are getting married and both of them are
are getting married and both of them are
are getting married and both of them are illiterate logically since there is
illiterate logically since there is
illiterate logically since there is nothing else they can do they each get
nothing else they can do they each get
nothing else they can do they each get part of their parents land and become
part of their parents land and become
part of their parents land and become subsistence farmers themselves but the
subsistence farmers themselves but the
subsistence farmers themselves but the parents must divide their land between
parents must divide their land between
parents must divide their land between all of their children so the parts
all of their children so the parts
all of their children so the parts become smaller and smaller from
become smaller and smaller from
become smaller and smaller from generation to generation and since the
generation to generation and since the
generation to generation and since the farming method is traditional it’s not
farming method is traditional it’s not
farming method is traditional it’s not efficient in fact it is worse than
efficient in fact it is worse than
efficient in fact it is worse than subsistence farming they can even grow
subsistence farming they can even grow
subsistence farming they can even grow enough to feed themselves most of them
enough to feed themselves most of them
enough to feed themselves most of them don’t believe in birth control and they
don’t believe in birth control and they
don’t believe in birth control and they cannot afford hobbies they don’t believe
cannot afford hobbies they don’t believe
cannot afford hobbies they don’t believe in birth control because of traditional
in birth control because of traditional
in birth control because of traditional belief or religious belief or
belief or religious belief or
belief or religious belief or traditional culture so they will keep
traditional culture so they will keep
traditional culture so they will keep having babies some of those babies will
having babies some of those babies will
having babies some of those babies will not make it to adulthood because of
not make it to adulthood because of
not make it to adulthood because of malnutrition or disease and even if the
malnutrition or disease and even if the
malnutrition or disease and even if the child lives the parents will not be able
child lives the parents will not be able
child lives the parents will not be able to send them to school and so they will
to send them to school and so they will
to send them to school and so they will end up exactly like their parents there
end up exactly like their parents there
end up exactly like their parents there is no hope that the government will do
is no hope that the government will do
is no hope that the government will do anything about this because the country
anything about this because the country
anything about this because the country is politically unstable and highly
is politically unstable and highly
is politically unstable and highly corrupt and people are anyway too busy
corrupt and people are anyway too busy
corrupt and people are anyway too busy finding food to care or even to
finding food to care or even to
finding food to care or even to understand what is going on their
understand what is going on their
understand what is going on their computer is one example I we grew up
computer is one example I we grew up
computer is one example I we grew up together in the same village and I knew
together in the same village and I knew
together in the same village and I knew her mother her job was washing clothes
her mother her job was washing clothes
her mother her job was washing clothes in the river so she could not afford to
in the river so she could not afford to
in the river so she could not afford to send Montuna to school she was sick but
send Montuna to school she was sick but
send Montuna to school she was sick but did not have enough money to afford
did not have enough money to afford
did not have enough money to afford treatment and
treatment and
treatment and she passed away a few years ago and
she passed away a few years ago and
she passed away a few years ago and guess what McCune is now doing the same
guess what McCune is now doing the same
guess what McCune is now doing the same exact same job as her mother did washing
exact same job as her mother did washing
exact same job as her mother did washing clothes in the river
clothes in the river
clothes in the river she is only 22 and she already has two
she is only 22 and she already has two
she is only 22 and she already has two children the father of those children
children the father of those children
children the father of those children left them so now she won’t be able to
left them so now she won’t be able to
left them so now she won’t be able to send them to school and eventually they
send them to school and eventually they
send them to school and eventually they will repeat the same story and her case
will repeat the same story and her case
will repeat the same story and her case is very common in Madagascar most of the
is very common in Madagascar most of the
is very common in Madagascar most of the little girls I used to play with are now
little girls I used to play with are now
little girls I used to play with are now single mothers this has become the
single mothers this has become the
single mothers this has become the standard life for everyone this has
standard life for everyone this has
standard life for everyone this has become so normal to the point where
become so normal to the point where
become so normal to the point where nobody has any idea that a better life
nobody has any idea that a better life
nobody has any idea that a better life is possible so I realized that my life
is possible so I realized that my life
is possible so I realized that my life turned out different because I was lucky
turned out different because I was lucky
turned out different because I was lucky to be able to go to school I was lucky
to be able to go to school I was lucky
to be able to go to school I was lucky because my mother was working for the
because my mother was working for the
because my mother was working for the Catholic Church so I could go to any
Catholic Church so I could go to any
Catholic Church so I could go to any Catholic school for free and I was lucky
Catholic school for free and I was lucky
Catholic school for free and I was lucky because my father understood the
because my father understood the
because my father understood the importance of education and he always
importance of education and he always
importance of education and he always encouraged me to continue I got a
encouraged me to continue I got a
encouraged me to continue I got a scholarship for my undergraduate studies
scholarship for my undergraduate studies
scholarship for my undergraduate studies in Morocco and now another one for my
in Morocco and now another one for my
in Morocco and now another one for my graduate studies here in Cowes Saudi
graduate studies here in Cowes Saudi
graduate studies here in Cowes Saudi Arabia and I strongly believe that
Arabia and I strongly believe that
Arabia and I strongly believe that everyone deserves the strength education
everyone deserves the strength education
everyone deserves the strength education is the key education will break this
is the key education will break this
is the key education will break this vicious cycle the effect will be
vicious cycle the effect will be
vicious cycle the effect will be long-term and there are no boundaries
long-term and there are no boundaries
long-term and there are no boundaries inside so I felt that I had to do
inside so I felt that I had to do
inside so I felt that I had to do something I had to do anything I could
something I had to do anything I could
something I had to do anything I could to help those children my idea was to
to help those children my idea was to
to help those children my idea was to create a nonprofit organization that
create a nonprofit organization that
create a nonprofit organization that would rescue as many children as
would rescue as many children as
would rescue as many children as possible from this cycle get them
possible from this cycle get them
possible from this cycle get them educated and inspire them by telling
educated and inspire them by telling
educated and inspire them by telling them and showing them that there is a
them and showing them that there is a
them and showing them that there is a better
better
better life and they can have it too so when
life and they can have it too so when
life and they can have it too so when era go exactly one year ago I talked
era go exactly one year ago I talked
era go exactly one year ago I talked about this idea to my best friend Alyssa
about this idea to my best friend Alyssa
about this idea to my best friend Alyssa a beautiful soul that loves helping
a beautiful soul that loves helping
a beautiful soul that loves helping people
people
people of course she told me that she always
of course she told me that she always
of course she told me that she always wanted to work for a nonprofit
wanted to work for a nonprofit
wanted to work for a nonprofit organization like this so we started to
organization like this so we started to
organization like this so we started to meet regularly and made a clear idea of
meet regularly and made a clear idea of
meet regularly and made a clear idea of what we wanted to do to help and one day
what we wanted to do to help and one day
what we wanted to do to help and one day I was sitting in a coffee shop and I was
I was sitting in a coffee shop and I was
I was sitting in a coffee shop and I was just smiling at people and I don’t know
just smiling at people and I don’t know
just smiling at people and I don’t know if you noticed but when you smile at
if you noticed but when you smile at
if you noticed but when you smile at someone even if it’s somebody you have
someone even if it’s somebody you have
someone even if it’s somebody you have never met that person gives you also a
never met that person gives you also a
never met that person gives you also a very sincere smile back
very sincere smile back
very sincere smile back I believe kindness is very easy to
I believe kindness is very easy to
I believe kindness is very easy to transmit have you ever noticed that if
transmit have you ever noticed that if
transmit have you ever noticed that if you hold the door for someone with a
you hold the door for someone with a
you hold the door for someone with a smile the other person smiles back but I
smile the other person smiles back but I
smile the other person smiles back but I believe that the problem of the world is
believe that the problem of the world is
believe that the problem of the world is that nobody dares to give that first
that nobody dares to give that first
that nobody dares to give that first smile that’s how I thought give them a
smile that’s how I thought give them a
smile that’s how I thought give them a smile would be the perfect name for this
smile would be the perfect name for this
smile would be the perfect name for this organization I thought this organization
organization I thought this organization
organization I thought this organization would be the starting point of kindness
would be the starting point of kindness
would be the starting point of kindness sharing giving a smile means not only
sharing giving a smile means not only
sharing giving a smile means not only smiling at someone but also putting a
smiling at someone but also putting a
smiling at someone but also putting a smile on the face of that person so me
smile on the face of that person so me
smile on the face of that person so me and Alyssa we started to contact people
and Alyssa we started to contact people
and Alyssa we started to contact people and my old school in Madagascar and we
and my old school in Madagascar and we
and my old school in Madagascar and we explained to them what we wanted to do
explained to them what we wanted to do
explained to them what we wanted to do to help our team there identified the
to help our team there identified the
to help our team there identified the kids in need most of them are orphans
kids in need most of them are orphans
kids in need most of them are orphans some of them were good in school but had
some of them were good in school but had
some of them were good in school but had to job because the guardians or the
to job because the guardians or the
to job because the guardians or the parents could not afford it anymore some
parents could not afford it anymore some
parents could not afford it anymore some of them have never been in school and
of them have never been in school and
of them have never been in school and would have never gone without help and
would have never gone without help and
would have never gone without help and then we made the calculation we it cost
then we made the calculation we it cost
then we made the calculation we it cost next
next
next thing to put a child in school in
thing to put a child in school in
thing to put a child in school in Madagascar it’s around 100 dollars per
Madagascar it’s around 100 dollars per
Madagascar it’s around 100 dollars per year the children we are helping live in
year the children we are helping live in
year the children we are helping live in a small countryside called Marsh Wahby
a small countryside called Marsh Wahby
a small countryside called Marsh Wahby to get there we need first to take a
to get there we need first to take a
to get there we need first to take a flight to the capital of Madagascar
flight to the capital of Madagascar
flight to the capital of Madagascar Antananarivo in our case from Saudi
Antananarivo in our case from Saudi
Antananarivo in our case from Saudi Arabia and then from the capital have
Arabia and then from the capital have
Arabia and then from the capital have get a nine-hour bus drive to another
get a nine-hour bus drive to another
get a nine-hour bus drive to another city called feein our answer and from
city called feein our answer and from
city called feein our answer and from final answer another 25 kilometers with
final answer another 25 kilometers with
final answer another 25 kilometers with this small track but it takes 2 hours to
this small track but it takes 2 hours to
this small track but it takes 2 hours to arrive because of how the road is but
arrive because of how the road is but
arrive because of how the road is but finally we arrived this is mass will be
finally we arrived this is mass will be
finally we arrived this is mass will be this is my village so we visited our
this is my village so we visited our
this is my village so we visited our kids talk to them get to know them we
kids talk to them get to know them we
kids talk to them get to know them we explained to them and their parents the
explained to them and their parents the
explained to them and their parents the importance of education and how we
importance of education and how we
importance of education and how we wanted to help and all of them were very
wanted to help and all of them were very
wanted to help and all of them were very happy and very grateful I I felt another
happy and very grateful I I felt another
happy and very grateful I I felt another level of joy when I saw their sincere
level of joy when I saw their sincere
level of joy when I saw their sincere smile as I talked to them the joy of
smile as I talked to them the joy of
smile as I talked to them the joy of giving the joy of sharing happiness the
giving the joy of sharing happiness the
giving the joy of sharing happiness the joy of helping without asking for
joy of helping without asking for
joy of helping without asking for anything in return and I could see that
anything in return and I could see that
anything in return and I could see that joy on the face of everyone helping for
joy on the face of everyone helping for
joy on the face of everyone helping for this project including Alisa so we
this project including Alisa so we
this project including Alisa so we thought it would be great to share this
thought it would be great to share this
thought it would be great to share this joy with as many people as possible
joy with as many people as possible
joy with as many people as possible today give them a smile is supporting
today give them a smile is supporting
today give them a smile is supporting the education of 20 children in this
the education of 20 children in this
the education of 20 children in this faraway village with the help of people
faraway village with the help of people
faraway village with the help of people families individuals from 12 different
families individuals from 12 different
families individuals from 12 different countries they have never met and they
countries they have never met and they
countries they have never met and they belong to two very different realities
belong to two very different realities
belong to two very different realities but the benefactors are being part of
but the benefactors are being part of
but the benefactors are being part of the life of those children every day
the life of those children every day
the life of those children every day we thought it would be great to create
we thought it would be great to create
we thought it would be great to create and maintain this beautiful connection
and maintain this beautiful connection
and maintain this beautiful connection between two very different realities
between two very different realities
between two very different realities first of all for those children to get
first of all for those children to get
first of all for those children to get the help but second for the benefactors
the help but second for the benefactors
the help but second for the benefactors to feel the happiness bounce back it was
to feel the happiness bounce back it was
to feel the happiness bounce back it was not easy because as you could imagine
not easy because as you could imagine
not easy because as you could imagine like most people in Madagascar those
like most people in Madagascar those
like most people in Madagascar those kids don’t have access to Internet so we
kids don’t have access to Internet so we
kids don’t have access to Internet so we are using a different method letters and
are using a different method letters and
are using a different method letters and this is one of them this is one of the
this is one of them this is one of the
this is one of them this is one of the letters the name of the kid that wrote
letters the name of the kid that wrote
letters the name of the kid that wrote this letter is freedom he’s 13 and he
this letter is freedom he’s 13 and he
this letter is freedom he’s 13 and he said thank you so much for the help I
said thank you so much for the help I
said thank you so much for the help I received the school furniture they are
received the school furniture they are
received the school furniture they are they all are very nice without you I
they all are very nice without you I
they all are very nice without you I can’t study my mother is very pleased
can’t study my mother is very pleased
can’t study my mother is very pleased and I do my best at school those
and I do my best at school those
and I do my best at school those children are feeling lucky because
children are feeling lucky because
children are feeling lucky because people they don’t even know are being
people they don’t even know are being
people they don’t even know are being kind to them they are now going to
kind to them they are now going to
kind to them they are now going to school they are learning and they will
school they are learning and they will
school they are learning and they will get a better life they now know how it
get a better life they now know how it
get a better life they now know how it feels to be helped and they will help
feels to be helped and they will help
feels to be helped and they will help and inspire other people with what they
and inspire other people with what they
and inspire other people with what they have give them a smile is putting a
have give them a smile is putting a
have give them a smile is putting a smile on the face of those children
smile on the face of those children
smile on the face of those children every day a smile on the face of their
every day a smile on the face of their
every day a smile on the face of their parents a smile on the face of everyone
parents a smile on the face of everyone
parents a smile on the face of everyone helping for this project and someday a
helping for this project and someday a
helping for this project and someday a smile on the face of everyone that will
smile on the face of everyone that will
smile on the face of everyone that will be affected by the education of those
be affected by the education of those
be affected by the education of those children and as I said before there are
children and as I said before there are
children and as I said before there are no boundaries inside so I told you this
no boundaries inside so I told you this
no boundaries inside so I told you this story to remind you that we don’t choose
story to remind you that we don’t choose
story to remind you that we don’t choose and we cannot choose where we’re born
and we cannot choose where we’re born
and we cannot choose where we’re born but the most beautiful thing is that we
but the most beautiful thing is that we
but the most beautiful thing is that we can help each other with what we have
can help each other with what we have
can help each other with what we have been given however I think
been given however I think
been given however I think it is possible only if you accept who
it is possible only if you accept who
it is possible only if you accept who you are and be honestly thankful for
you are and be honestly thankful for
you are and be honestly thankful for what you have I think it is very admire
what you have I think it is very admire
what you have I think it is very admire well that humans always want more always
well that humans always want more always
well that humans always want more always want to be better and always want to
want to be better and always want to
want to be better and always want to improve but I think that it is also
improve but I think that it is also
improve but I think that it is also important to stop and take a moment from
important to stop and take a moment from
important to stop and take a moment from time to time and be grateful for what
time to time and be grateful for what
time to time and be grateful for what you already have so to finish this talk
you already have so to finish this talk
you already have so to finish this talk I would like to ask everybody to stop
I would like to ask everybody to stop
I would like to ask everybody to stop take a moment and think about what you
take a moment and think about what you
take a moment and think about what you have in your life small things
have in your life small things
have in your life small things fundamental things you don’t have to
fundamental things you don’t have to
fundamental things you don’t have to worry about where to sleep tonight or
worry about where to sleep tonight or
worry about where to sleep tonight or where to find the money to buy food so
where to find the money to buy food so
where to find the money to buy food so imagine how it would be without those
imagine how it would be without those
imagine how it would be without those things and be thankful I know yourself
things and be thankful I know yourself
things and be thankful I know yourself to be happy because you have those
to be happy because you have those
to be happy because you have those things but don’t stop there because
things but don’t stop there because
things but don’t stop there because there is another level of joy the joy of
there is another level of joy the joy of
there is another level of joy the joy of giving and sharing how much you give is
giving and sharing how much you give is
giving and sharing how much you give is not important what is important is your
not important what is important is your
not important what is important is your hearts giving it and how much happiness
hearts giving it and how much happiness
hearts giving it and how much happiness you are sharing when you are giving it
you are sharing when you are giving it
you are sharing when you are giving it and the story I just told you proves
and the story I just told you proves
and the story I just told you proves that very small things for you could
that very small things for you could
that very small things for you could mean the world could mean life to
mean the world could mean life to
mean the world could mean life to somebody else living in a different
somebody else living in a different
somebody else living in a different reality and if you think about it each
reality and if you think about it each
reality and if you think about it each one of us somehow lives in a different
one of us somehow lives in a different
one of us somehow lives in a different reality and everyone around us is
reality and everyone around us is
reality and everyone around us is somehow fighting about everyday and just
somehow fighting about everyday and just
somehow fighting about everyday and just being kind is giving remember your smile
being kind is giving remember your smile
being kind is giving remember your smile and kindness can make the day of people
and kindness can make the day of people
and kindness can make the day of people around you so give them your smile thank
around you so give them your smile thank
around you so give them your smile thank you
you
you you
”
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