School education for socially disadvantaged children (Ceres)

Madagascar The “Ceres” program supports the poorest children and youth from rural areas of Madagascar on their path to higher education. The aim is to provide about 600 promising adolescents with solid elementary education every year and to prevent them from dropping out of school. The Ceres schools are spread over five villages in the Haute-Matsiatra region in central Madagascar. Boarding is available at all five locations for 200 children who live too far away from the schools. The project also offers educational support to several rural high schools. Evaluation of the project shows that 80 percent of participating secondary school students successfully completed compulsory education. The national rate, by comparison, is 40 percent. 94 percent of students who continue to high school successfully graduate. In addition, the exam results of Ceres students are significantly better than the national average. The vocational preparation and the higher educational level of Ceres students make them more attractive to local companies and better able to find a job that earns enough to support them independently. Local partner: Association Promes and Institut Européen de Coopération et de Développement (IECD) MORE PROJECTS Scholarships for children from low-income families Scholarships for children from low-income families Peru, Argentina, El Salvador, Guatemala, School education Integration of former child soldiers into society Integration of former child soldiers into society Colombia, School education Saberes Saberes Colombia, School education Higher education for socially disadvantaged youth (Sesame) Higher education for socially disadvantaged youth (Sesame) Madagascar, School education Micro Enterprise Development for Women Micro Enterprise Development for Women Philippines, School education Strengthening the parenting skills of refugee parents Strengthening the parenting skills of refugee parents Switzerland, School education MORE PROJECTS

Higher education for socially disadvantaged youth (Sesame)

Madagascar Since 2013, the “Sesame” program has pursued the goal of enabling motivated and talented high school graduates from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds in Madagascar to pursue higher education. Normally, only the upper class can afford high-quality education. The “Sesame” initiative promotes the successful integration of less privileged young people into the Malagasy labor market and their active participation in the development of their homeland by awarding scholarships that cover most of their living and school costs. Accommodation is provided in dormitories on campus. The annual selection of students is nationwide. During a preparatory year on the campus in the capital Antananarivo, the youth receive individual mentoring in both academic and personal areas over a period of ten months. The success of the “Sesame” program is reflected not only in the positive feedback from the staff, but above all in the motivated and successful students. 95 percent of the students continue their studies with “Sesame” after the preparatory year at the university of their choice and 80 percent of the young people earn their degrees there. 85 percent of graduates are professionally integrated six months after graduation and, thus, can look forward to a secure future. Local partner: Association Promes and Institut Européen de Coopération et de Développement (IECD) MORE PROJECTS Basic medical care for islanders Greece, Medical assistance Home for people with disabilities India, Medical assistance Medical care at Monkole Hospital Democratic Republic of the Congo, Medical assistance Early childhood education training for cognitive disabilities Colombia, Medical assistance Job application workshop for youth with handicap Switzerland, Professional formation Education for socially disadvantaged women India, Professional formation MORE PROJECTS