In March 2025, Tropical Cyclone Jude struck southern Madagascar, causing widespread damage across the Atsimo Andrefana Region. In the remote village of Mahazoarivo, the cyclone had a particularly severe impact on children’s access to education. Saint Jean-Paul II, the Redemptorist’s Primary School and the only formal school serving the area, was badly damaged, leaving more than 250 students without safe classrooms.
In response, the Redemptorist Vice Province of Madagascar, with the support of the Redemptorist Solidarity Office and funding from Misean Cara, implemented a targeted humanitarian intervention focused on restoring safe learning spaces. The priority was to enable children to return to school as quickly as possible after weeks of disruption.
The project rehabilitated the school’s main building, including the installation of a cyclone-resilient roof, structural wall repairs, replacement of doors and windows, and the restoration and repainting of four classrooms. Local builders were engaged and materials sourced nearby, allowing the work to progress efficiently despite the area’s isolation.
As a result, students and teachers were able to resume classes in safe and dignified conditions. The intervention helped stabilise the community after the cyclone and reaffirmed the central role of education in recovery, offering children in Mahazoarivo renewed protection, routine, and hope following Cyclone Jude.
