Pottery Making – Madagascar

September 25, 2020
mmchunt

Pottery Making - Madagascar

How We Work

Problem

Despite having an abundance of natural resources, Madagascar has one of the highest poverty rates in the world- around 75% of the population was living below the international poverty line of $1.90 in 2019.⁵ Years of political instability and economic stagnation have made it challenging for women and youth to break free from the cycle of poverty in Madagascar. Further, Madagascar has the world’s fourth highest rate of chronic malnutrition- over half of children are chronically malnourished, and more than one fourth are severely malnourished. Children in rural areas are especially vulnerable to chronic malnutrition.^{5 6} In order to confront the challenging conditions present in Madagascar, rural women sought a partnership with Ripples USA to search for sustainable and profitable solutions for local economies.

⁵ The World Bank in Madagascar
⁶ Addressing Chronic Malnutrition in Madagascar

Solution

Ripples Madagascar Women’s Enterprise teaches women the techniques of pottery making, spice production, and sustainable farming, enabling them to effectively address the economic, societal, and educational barriers facing them. The collaboration between local women and Ripples USA utilizes the natural resources of Madagascar as raw materials, and it also helps supply women with the equipment necessary for business production processes, such as pottery wheels. Ripples women in Madagascar are also equipped with international business skills: products of Ripples women are designated with Fair Trade Certification, which gives rural economies access to opportunities of the free market, in addition to enhancing the movement for global peace and prosperity.

Impact

Ripples USA is determined to give a hand-up to women and youth in Madagascar: since 2017, Ripples has been able to help over 1,500 women in Madagascar. Ripples USA has successfully established three different projects in Madagascar: Pottery Project, Spices Production Project, and Stakeholder Farming. In being equipped with the necessary materials and training, Ripples Women’s Enterprise-trained women are able to fight against the cycle of poverty, providing the income necessary to support the health and well-being of their families and communities. The projects instituted through collaboration between Ripples USA and women in Madagascar have succeeded in providing communities with food and jobs for generations.