Rising Voices wants to help bring new voices from new communities and speaking new languages to the global conversation. I think Foko bloggers are doing great :
“I earn a little” RAKOTONIAINA Jean Paul is a 50 year old economist and a taxi driver. He is parked downtown near Mahabibo market and is waiting for clients. He’s a driver since 1994. However this job has nothnig to do with his competences and experiences. “I was warehouseman for the state-owned building company and I was also a qualified office employee at SOTEMA (textile state owned company) for 15 years. He is able to take care of his 5 children with what he earns.
Eliza is only 7 years old and is already working because of poverty. Tsimialozafy Eliza is still a child and have a 9 years old sister named Faniry and a little brother. They live here in Majunga with their mother, Sahondra, a self worker; her husband left her 5 years ago. She was pregnant with her little boy at this time : ” I did everything at this time : I washed people’s laundry, I was a maid ; but it was never enough and now that the kids are older they have to help me even if I’m feeling guilty about it” Eliza and Faniry have to sell bontamo (a kind of doughnut made of rice and peanuts) at ” Bord de la mer”, the highly touristical borderwalk.
August 2007, Philomène Georgine gave birth to wonderful twins : a little girl who was perefectly healthy and a little boy. He was born with a very difficult condition (please take a look at his picture) a flesh lump on his forehead between his eyes and on the top of his little nose. It masks his eyeshight and gives him respiratory problems. ” During a month and a half, my kids and I had to stay at the hospital because of this disease. But during this time, nobody cared for us and you are the first who really shows interest in my children’s well-being. And the first one to smile at them.
ENGLISH subtitles here on DoTSub
His name is Dominique one of the many Malagasy kids who live in poverty
and his life is very different from ours
He is 14 today
As we can see on the video he is a beggar
He lives in Anosizato with his mother and little sisters and brothers
He only comes to Analakely where he can find
business men and tourists,
so this is why he always goes downtown
We have nothing, he said
this is why I have to beg
When I receive money it goes to food
“I receive less than 1000 Ariary per day” admits Dominique
If you convert in foreign currency
He only earns 0.5 dollars everyday
This young boy started begging on the street since he was 9
He went to school long ago but has to leave in T3 (4th grade)
One of Dominique’s biggest dream ?
Going back to school …
