Christchurch Teachers Experience in Madagascar (3 February 2003)

Media Release 3 February 2003 (for immediate issue)

Revolution in the streets tested the resolve of two Christchurch teachers recently returned to the city from contract work in Madagascar.

Presbyterian teachers Stuart and Lala Simpson first went to the island off the eastern coast of Africa three years ago. During their time there, they taught English, Art, French, and general life skills to students aged between 10 to 23 years.

But by February 2002, they had to cope with uproar as their students took action to overthrow the regime of President Didier Ratsirika, amidst nationwide disruption and violence. Although Stuart and Lala were based in the village of Faratsiho, the private church school they taught at was affected, with students going out on marches.

All government schools were closed for a time because of the upheaval.

"It was really hard because we really didn't know what would happen each day. We weren't afraid physically, but it upset the programme we were teaching," Stuart says.

"There were quite a few times we just didn't teach because we'd turn up and all the kids had gone. Sometimes I'd be teaching and other classes had gone."

While sympathetic to the uprising, the couple only attended a few marches mainly as observers, trying to keep on with their work. But they were in the village on the Saturday a senior local official was attacked by residents for his corrupt activity.

The official had called protestors "stupid", while using government money for his own personal effects.

"He got beaten up pretty badly, with his cars and house burnt down. The police didn't do anything until it was getting to the point where he could have been killed," Stuart says.

Blockades were set up around the country by both sides and on one occasion, Lala and Stuart were prevented by a drunken mob from entering a major centre with their baby daughter running a high fever.

"We went with a medical inspector and he got pretty angry and didn't take that nonsense."

Despite the difficulties of teaching in a district cut off by poor roading, the couple had settled into the area, also starting a Saturday morning 'Kids Club' for 10-13 year olds.

Lala herself is from Madagascar with her relatives still living there and their daughter Aina, now two, was born there also.

"There was nothing really political in the first year and we got on with our work. Our role was to see what the needs were and where we could help," Stuart says.

But years of bribery and corruption had rendered most of the country in a state of disrepair, with frustrations finally boiling over in the couple's last year. Protests mounted throughout Madagascar in late 2001 after a presidential election later declared rigged by a constitutional court.

As the government clung to power, over half the country's 14 million population attended protests and prayer meetings, including two million at one meeting in the capital Antananarivo alone.

Violence flared in the cities with over 100 people killed. Opposition gathered around presidential candidate Marc Ravalomanana, supported by all Christian denominations. After months of protests, the regime fell in mid-2002, with Marc Ravalomanana formally declared president and Ratsiraka going into exile.

Stuart says despite Madagascar's drama, he and Lala were able to complete their contract and have been invited back to work there in the future.

"There is now a good government wanting to put the money back into the country and life will start to improve," he says.

Ends

Media Contact

Stuart Simpson ph: 03 360 3882 (home) stuart_lala(at)hotmail.com

Mary Macpherson, Communications Manager, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand Ph: 04 381 8284; Mob: 021 353020

About Madagascar: (Source: Lonely Planet: Madagascar)

Full country name: Republic of Madagascar (Repoblikan'i Madagasiraka)

Area: 594,180 sq km (231,730 sq mi)

Population: 15.5 million

Capital city: Antananarivo (Tana) (pop 800,000)

People: Eighteen major ethnic groups, including Malayo-Indonesian, African, Arab, French, Indian, Creole and Comoran

Language: Malagasy and French

Religion: Christianity and Islam

Government: Republic

President: Marc Ravalomanana

GDP: US$12.3 billion

GDP per head: US$800

Annual growth: 4.8%

Inflation: 10%

Major industries: Agriculture, meat processing, soap, textiles, cement, automotive assembly, petroleum products

Major trading partners: France, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Singapore

 

[ends]