World Environment Day: Resilience in Madagascar

Resilience is the heart and soul of Mothers' Union, because in the face of uncertainty, challenge, suffering or disaster, we are right there on the frontline. 

Thanks to being a tower of strength, with wisdom through lessons learned, resistant to the trials of this life, equipping the church and community stand together, our track-record is hard to match.

It is not easy when families watch all they have worked for and built for the future generations, destroyed, and washed away in the twinkling of an eye. Even further, before they can recover to rebuild the destruction to property and infrastructure, high winds, mudslides, and floods strike again. Villages and towns cut off, families displaced, schools destroyed, and there is little or no access to food, clean drinking water, electricity, and medical supplies. Several agencies supply emergency aid and monies to start rebuilding, but it is our vast network of members on the ground who are capable of pastoral support and ready a plan to equip and mobilize communities to work together to be resilient, rebuild stronger and better, for a sustainable future.

Bishop Samy highlighted that Madagascar, due to its geographical position, endures most of the south-western Indian Ocean cyclone season. Zonal Trustee Marie-Pierrette Bezara lamented, “The first quarter of every year is the worst time for us. In 2022 we had four consecutive cyclones in 3 months. Each year I rescue family after family in my home from the flood waters.”

Our Provincial Community Development Coordinator, Jocelyne Vololoniaina, said that the best thing that happened for them was that the church and Mothers' Union are working together to build resilient communities through holistic development.

Given that the changing climate is affecting all the dioceses in Madagascar,  it is particularly important to create awareness and help communities build resilience to help with climate change.

Other Mothers' Union leaders have reported that the challenges are many and there is need to:

• Build other economic opportunities in the fishing communities which are most affected,
• Help farmers to improve their agricultural methods to access markets and sell their produce for the best price.
• Educate Priests on resilience so they can lead and be better equipped to help their parishes.
• Share resources across the diocese and especially to the poorest communities.

That said, there have been notable successes in agriculture development. People have been working together, finding their own solutions, and creating their own development. The focus has shifted to help the youth and church leadership to become resilient, helping communities prepare and take action before the disasters come.”

May we always remember to pray for our 8,500 members in Madagascar and all our members who live in the Island states of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

By God’s grace there will be resilient, with renewed hope and initiatives to withstand the devastation of natural disasters.

Imagine a world where the seas and the winds are at peace.

Imagine a land free of violence, poverty, and social injustice.

Imagine Mothers' Union where the love of Jesus Christ is magnified!

May the flood gates of the heavens open, releasing showers of blessings …

In a changing world, our faith must be strong and steadfast, we should be patient with hope for this journey He set for us, and brave enough to stand on all His promises, confident that this is the will of He who called us, believing that 'He who began the good work in us will bring it to completion...'  - Philippians 1:6

Praise God!

Words by Sheran Harper, our Worldwide President