Project overview

This project is a work detail in the African country of Madagascar.  Volunteers will construct a new runway while refurbishing two others. 

Volunteers will be involved in planning and construction, and should be prepared for/and physically able to perform manual labor.  Volunteers must also agree with and be able to sign our Statement of Faith.

Date

Friday, August 1, 2008 to 

Sunday, Aug 24, 2008

Living Conditions

Volunteers will live in tents, bathe in the river, and eat food prepared by locals. 

Itinerary (estimation)

Day 1 Depart Toronto

Day 3 Arrive in Antananarivo, Madagascar

Day 4 Fly to project site

Day 20 Depart from project for some  R&R

Day 22 Depart from Antananarivo for Canada   

Cost

The estimated cost of the trip is $3,550, and includes:

• Transportation between Guelph and Toronto Airport

• Airfare

• Inoculations

• Insurances

• Visas

• Two nights hotel at end of trip

• Seven budgeted restaurant meals

• MAF administration fee

• Miscellaneous expenses

What is NOT covered in this price:

• Passports

• Passport photos

• Travel to and from Toronto airport if you live beyond the greater Guelph area

• Souvenirs

• Food while travelling between Canada & Madagascar

Application Process

Those interested in committing to serve on a team in Madagascar with MAF this summer are requested to:

• download and complete the application form available here.

• submit application form and team preference to Greg Constable, Director of Human Resources by April 30, 2008. 

• A non-refundable deposit of $100 will be required by April 30, 2008.

• 50% of remaining cost required by June 1, 2008

• 100% of total cost required by July 1, 2008

Application Download

Those interested in volunteering in this work project, should download, complete, and return the following  application and statement of faith to Greg Constable, MAF Canada Director of Human Resources on or before April 30, 2008.

If you have any questions, you can email Greg by clicking here.

Application

Statement of Faith

Completed Applications and Statements of Faith can be sent to the following:

Greg Constable

Director of Human Resources, MAF Canada

264 Woodlawn Rd. West

Guelph, ON  N1H 1B6

Fax: 519-823-1650

About the Country of Madagascar

Madagascar is located 250 miles off the eastern coast of Africa, just south of the equator.

Over 1,000 miles (1,580 km) long and 350 miles (570 km) wide, Madagascar is the world's fourth largest island. 

A nature-lover's paradise, this sparsely populated land occupies an area more than twice the size of Great Britain, and it is crisscrossed by no less than six different microclimates!

Spiritual Climate and Challenges

A firm belief in the existence of close ties between the living and the dead constitutes the most basic of all traditional beliefs and the foundation for Malagasy religious and social values.

All the Malagasy peoples have traditionally accepted the existence of a supreme God, known commonly as Zanahary (Creator) or Andriamanitra (Sweet, or Fragrant, Lord).

The dead have been conceived as playing the role of intermediary between this supreme God and humankind and are viewed as having the power to affect the fortunes of the living for good or evil.

The dead are sometimes described as "gods on earth," who are considered the most important and authoritative members of the family, intimately involved in the daily life of the living members.

At the same time, the razana (best defined as "ancestors") are the sources from which the life force flows and the creators of Malagasy customs and ways of life. The living are merely temporary extensions of the dead. Great hardship or trouble can result if the dead are offended or neglected.

MAF Program in Madagascar

MAF currently flies for a number of mission and church organizations in support of projects in the following areas:

• Church activities

• Medical: Primary health care, eye care, general surgery, hospitals, spiritual healing

• Agriculture & forest conservation

• Education

• Natural disasters relief: Extensive assistance following the annual cyclones that hit the towns along the east coast. Locust infestations in the south

• Search & rescue.

MAF also flies for a number of NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) and various government departments supporting various aspects of development. 

In addition to the flight operation, MAF also operates a Logistics Service and Car Maintenance Program for its clients. 

The MAF fleet in Madagascar is made up of two C208 aircraft.

Madagascar Fast Facts (source: lonelyplanet.com)

Full Country Name

Republic of Madagascar

(Repoblikan'i Madagasiraka)

 

Population

19,448,815

 

Currency

Name: Malagasy Ariary
Code: MGA
Symbol: MGA

 

Electrical Plugs

127/220V 50Hz

 

Languages Spoken

Official: Malagasy, French, English
 

Time Zones

GMT/UTC +3 
 

Country Dialing Code

+261

 

Weights & Measures

Metric

Additional Information can be found at this third-party site.