The Story...
Zoe & Ross, along with their cell group (and coincidentally a few people who would one day join the team); met a man called Faly, from YWAM Madagascar at the start of 2007 and his story captured them. He had travelled from a deprived community where there was no running water, no electricity and very basic education and health facilities. They really felt God was tugging on their hearts in the direction of Madagascar. A plan was quickly put together to get to Madagascar within 3 months. As a 2 man team, Zoe & Ross raised approximately £2100, which would have covered travelling expenses.At this stage, and because of the spontaneity, no one else had yet joined the team. It was a big undertaking and what they lacked in organization and focus they made up for in passion and drive. Unfortunately, because of visa complications they weren't able to go. Instead £1400 was given to Faly. The plan was to save the remaining £700 to try again in 2008.
Faly & his family
Faly became a Christian many years ago, was the youngest of many, MANY, siblings and describes himself as once upon a time being "a very naughty boy"! He found himself working for YWAM - Madagascar. He is an incredibly talented and gifted man and his passion for his community carrys him on to develop many new programs and projects. The YWAM base and surrounding communities had no accessible school so Faly & his wife started teaching their own children at home. Their neighbours kids started coming, then their neighbours neighbours kids coming. Soon they had a school with kids from all over the surrounding areas. It's a few years on now and the school is feeling the need for a secondary school. This is part of what we are there to help with: building the secondary school.
Amongst other things, Faly is travelling, speaking at seminars entitled "Fighting the Mindset of Poverty", nurturing banana plantations, producing semi-precious gems and more. It is this bubbly, passionate, driven character of Faly's that reached into the hearts of Ross & Zoe & inspired them to start "The Madagascar Project"...