In Madagascar, access to tertiary education and university presents a huge challenge, especially for many young women.

The main centers of education are located in the capital, Antananarivo, but relocating to the city is not within everyone’s reach, particularly for girls from remote areas with limited economic resources. Without adequate support, their dreams are shattered before they even have the chance to take off.
To address this need, we have renovated part of the Institution Sainte Famille – La Salle primary and secondary school to accommodate female university students from all over the country and support them in their academic journey. Today, the university boarding school hosts 75 girls many of whom have chosen to study economics and communication.

In a protected and secure environment, these young women can focus on their future and overcome the obstacles that would otherwise prevent them from continuing their education.

Among these students is Laurena, a young girl from Fort-Dauphin in the southeast of Madagascar. Raised in a modest but close-knit family, Laurena is the third of five children. Her mother sells products at the local market, while her father works as an economic operator in the region. Both have always shared a common dream: to provide their children with a quality education, despite the daily challenges and the long, bumpy roads that make accessing high schools and universities difficult.
Since childhood, Laurena has shown a strong interest in tourism and hospitality, fascinated by the stories of travelers passing through her town and the richness of her own culture, which she dreams of sharing with the world. Aware of her potential, her parents made a great sacrifice: to send her to the capital to continue her studies.
After much searching, they found our boarding school. This place not only offered Laurena a safe roof over her head but also a supportive educational environment conducive to her personal growth. The first days away from home were difficult, marked by loneliness and homesickness, but soon the boarding school became her second home.

Thanks to the support of other students and a structured education, Laurena learned to manage her independence.
Today, in her first year of university studies, Laurena is flourishing more each day. Between classes and activities at the boarding school, she is building the foundations for her future. Every evening, as she looks at the lights of Antananarivo from the inner courtyard, she thinks of her family and remembers why she is there: to build a solid future, not only for herself but also for those who believed in her.

Her dream of working in the tourism and hospitality sector is no longer just an aspiration but a concrete goal she is steadily reaching. Laurena understands that it is not physical distance that determines success, but the courage to pursue one’s goals.
Thanks to the Sainte Famille university boarding school, many other girls like Laurena can now study in peace and pursue their dreams in a safe environment. By creating spaces like these, we give them the opportunity to build a better future, breaking down the economic and social barriers that often hinder the educational path of young women in Madagascar.

Every young woman who achieves her dream is a victory for the entire community, and for us at La Salle Foundation, it is the heart of our mission, which guides us every day.