What’s in a name? The meaning behind Meylou, SEMAFI and Fianarantsoa
Every name tells a story — one of creation, purpose, or values.
From the name of our organization, to the school we support, to the city — and region — we work in, each carries a meaning that connects to our mission.
As we grow our efforts to give more deaf children access to education, healthcare and opportunity, we want to take a moment to share some of the meaning and history behind three of the most important names connected to our work.
Meylou
Choosing a name that would work across several languages and cultures wasn’t easy. We wanted a name derived from Malagasy, but one which could easily be pronounced in English. We needed a name that teased our mission, but also something unique that we could make our own.
After months of thought, we settled on the Meylou Fund for the Deaf, or Tahirim-bola Meylou ho an’ny Marenina in Malagasy.
The name “Meylou” — pronounced “may-loo” — comes from the Malagasy word mamelona, which means “to bring to life.” In common usage, mamelona can be used to describe actions like starting a fire or caring for a child. It can be used literally to describe the sun giving life to all living things, or figuratively to mean giving someone joy and purpose.
The first time I stayed at SEMAFI in December 2024, I was struck by how smart, happy and well-adjusted the students were. At SEMAFI, surrounded by kids and adults fluent in Malagasy Sign Language, the kids were able to live and learn with far fewer barriers. Here, it was normal to be deaf.
That was when I realized just how important sign language and schools for the deaf are for deaf children. More than just education, schools like SEMAFI offer deaf children the opportunity to learn how to communicate and connect with others, helping them build community that will last a lifetime.
In Malagasy Sign Language, the sign for the Meylou Fund for the Deaf is created by bringing a “M” in the right hand and a “F” in the left hand together in front of the chest. You can see the stationary verson of the sign in our logo.
SEMAFI
SEMAFI, pronounced “say-mah-fee”, is an acronym for the school’s full name, Sekolin’ny Marenina Fianarantsoa. In Madagascar, acronyms are commonly made by taking the first two or three letters of words to create an alternating constanant-vowel pattern. The name translates simply to the Fianarantsoa School for the Deaf in English.
In Malagasy Sign Language, the sign for SEMAFI is created by bringing a fist (right hand) and palm (left hand) together in front of the chest, then creating fists in both hands and bringing them down sharply as if to slam on a table.
Fianarantsoa
Fianarantsoa — pronounced “fi-ah-na-ran-tso-ah” — is the name of both the city and region where SEMAFI is located. The name means “place of good education” in Malagasy, something I’ve always loved.
Fianarantsoa was founded in the 19th century as a southern counterpart to Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo. Today, it’s an important cultural, educational and religious hub in Madagascar, home to one of the country’s oldest and largest universities, the University of Fianarantsoa.
While the city is traditionally known for it’s strong education programs, access to these opportunities remains far from equal. While some students study in some of the best schools in the country, other children never attend school at all.
In Malagasy Sign Language, the sign for Fianarantsoa is created by bringing the right hand up in front of the mouth and wiggling the fingers.