Student Sponsorship Program
Here in Madagascar, an estimated 99% of deaf children never receive a formal education. Some attend schools for hearing children but learn little, while others never attend school at all. Many grow up without meaningful communication or the chance to fully connect with those around them.
Our student sponsorship program was created to help more of these children access the language, education, healthcare, and community they need to thrive.
Jhonny’s Sponsorship Story
When the school year began in September 2025, 12-year-old Jhonny didn’t return to SEMAFI with his classmates.
His mother had just given birth to her sixth child, and his family could no longer afford the cost of his education. Their situation became even more difficult in January when Jhonny’s father passed away unexpectedly.
Thanks to a Meylou sponsor, Jhonny was able to return to school and reunite with his friends in February.
Now, Jhonny can continue his education without fear of future interruptions.
There is no shortage of families who dream of sending their child to study at SEMAFI, but for most, the cost of tuition and related expenses is simply out of reach. Other students are forced to leave school before completing their education because their families can no longer afford to support them.
That’s where you can help.
For $40 per month — or $480 per year — you can give a child the foundation for a fulfilling, independent life. Sponsorship provides access to education, language, healthcare, and a supportive community. Through this program, children have been able to enroll at SEMAFI for the first time, remain in school when they were at risk of dropping out, and even return to continue an education that had been cut short.
It’s hard to imagine a more meaningful way to change a child’s life than helping a deaf child enroll at SEMAFI. For many deaf children in Madagascar, access to education also means access to sign language, friendship, and the chance to fully participate in the world around them. A sponsorship doesn’t just pay for school, it opens the door to opportunities that would otherwise never be possible.
We currently support 18 students through our sponsorship program, representing 35% of all students enrolled at SEMAFI. Since the program began in 2025, not a single student has left school for financial reasons.
Unlike many sponsorship programs, 100% of sponsorship dues go directly toward supporting students and their families. No funds are used for organizational or administrative expenses.
Our sponsorship program covers:
Parents are responsible for:
In return, sponsors receive periodic updates about their child, including photos, videos, and annotated exams, allowing them to follow their progress and growth. In some cases, we are also able to arrange video calls so sponsors and students can meet directly.
While our sponsorship program primarily supports deaf children, we may occasionally match sponsors with hearing children of deaf adults or children with other communication disorders who would benefit from studying at SEMAFI.