Internationally acclaimed singer Katy Perry took time out of her busy schedule recently to visit the children of Madagascar recently, to help highlight the extreme poverty that many of them live in. The country may be famous for it’s diverse selection of wildlife, but they are also suffering from the recent political crisis that has seen them become one of the poorest countries in the world.
This was Perry’s first visit to Madagascar, and during her stay she saw exactly how UNICEF are working hard to improve –
- Education
- Nutrition
- Health
- Sanitation
- Hygiene
to offer young people and their families a better chance for a brighter future. Starting in the capital of Antananarivo, Katy took the time to visit the slum areas, meeting the local children and finding out more about their lives, and how they are coping whilst growing up in extreme poverty. The government has been force to making dramatic public spending cuts since the political upheaval in 2009, though UNICEF has been on hand to build both pre and primary schools to enable children to have an education. The buildings themselves are now cyclone resistant, after the previous schools were damaged during storms.
Katy said –
In less than one week here in Madagascar, I went from crowded city slums to the most remote villages and my eyes were opened wide by the incredible need for a healthy life – nutrition, sanitation, and protection against rape and abuse – which UNICEF is stepping in to help provide. I am grateful to UNICEF for giving me the opportunity to see first-hand how its programmes make a real difference in children’s lives. An education is an incredible opportunity here. I visited a very remote community, where children and teachers walk for 45 minutes just to get to school. This is a testament to how appreciative they are about their education. Support for UNICEF is saving children, I am a witness to it.
© UNICEF /Holt
