About Meylou

The Meylou Fund for the Deaf is a nonprofit organization focused on creating opportunities for deaf children in the Fianarantsoa region of Madagascar. We work closely with the Fianarantsoa School for the Deaf (SEMAFI) to help deaf children access quality education, sign language, and healthcare.

Only a small fraction of deaf children in Madagascar ever learn sign language or attend a school for the deaf—less than 1%, according to an estimate by the Federation of the Deaf in Madagascar. Early exposure to sign language is critical for deaf children’s language, cognitive, and social development; without it, children may experience permanent, long-term delays in language and learning.

Yet, with early access to sign language and specialized education programs, deaf children can thrive and reach the same milestones as their hearing peers.

Lack of information about schools for the deaf and high tuition costs mean that the vast majority of children with hearing loss never receive the support they need. In most cases, these schools have the capacity to enroll more students, but a severe shortage of funds prevents them from accepting students who are unable to pay tuition. That’s where we come in.

We believe that real, lasting change is created by investing in the efforts and education of Malagasy people. We work closely with teachers and staff at SEMAFI to support students with limited financial means and expand the school’s education program. Ultimately, we strive to create a future where all deaf children in the greater Fianarantsoa area have access to sign language and an education which meets their unique needs.

We are currently in the process of filing for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Donations made to Meylou are not currently tax deductable.

Our Mission

Meylou empowers deaf children in Madagascar by expanding access to education, healthcare, and sign language. We support the deaf community in advocating for their needs by promoting disability awareness and inclusion so every child has the chance to thrive.

Our Vision

We envision a Madagascar where deaf children are respected, supported, and empowered to build meaningful, independent lives with equal access and opportunity.

Our Team

Our Impact

Our Partners

About SEMAFI

A female teacher sits behind paper plates with various quantities of marbles. She encourages a 5-year-old student to use sign language to describe the quantities of items displayed. — Preschool teacher Madam Fafa encourages Josia, 5, to describe the quantity of marbles displayed using sign language during class.

A group of roughly two dozen elementary school students pose for the camera in their uniforms in front of the school at SEMAFI. — SEMAFI students smile for the camera during their morning break.

A dozen students ranging in age from 14 to 24 practice crochet at a pink table in SEMAFI's dining room. — SEMAFI’s vocational education students practice crocheting in the dining room.

The Fianarantsoa School for the Deaf (SEMAFI) is the only school in southern Madagascar dedicated to the education of deaf children. Located in the city of Fianarantsoa, the school was built in 1998 by the Norwegian Missionary Society. It is one of seven schools for the deaf run by the Malagasy Lutheran Church, the largest network of schools for the deaf in Madagascar.

SEMAFI offers academic instruction to students in preschool through fifth grade. The vocational education program additionally trains older students in sewing, embroidery, cooking, and small animal husbandry. Currently, there are more than 50 day and boarding students who attend SEMAFI.