Discover the journey that led me to document the challenges faced by young mothers in Madagascar, and experience the urgency to support these resilient young girls. Their voices deserve to be heard, and this project represents a crucial step toward deeper understanding and awareness, with genuine hope for positive change.
The global poverty line, introduced by the World Bank in 1990 at one dollar per day, has since been adjusted to $2.15 per person per day. However, this purely monetary approach is increasingly criticized, as poverty is now understood through multiple dimensions, captured in the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which considers health, education, and living standards. This project reflects the harsh realities of poverty through the story of Justine Ravoniriana, a single mother of six in Antananarivo, revealing the daily struggles that keep her family entrenched in deprivation.
My grandmother, Germaine Rasoazanany, is 89 and has lived in Isotry, in the capital of Madagascar all her life. Alzheimer’s has gradually eroded her memory since her diagnosis ten years ago. Resilient woman, she raised her ten children alone after her husband’s passing, when her twins had only six months. Through this series, I want to honor her as a remarkable person who has shown kindness to everyone she met and embodies the Malagasy value of "fihavanana", community and solidarity based.
This photographic series is a reflection on the lives of working-class women in Antananarivo, Madagascar, where rapid urbanization and extreme poverty challenge daily existence. Initiated in 2020, these tightly framed portraits on a red background highlight the intense struggles these women face as they support their families alone, often with multiple children in charge. The project questions the diminishing values of "Fihavanana" (solidarity), once very important for Malagasy people.
Malagasy people share a profound bond with their ancestors, maintaining a spiritual connection with the departed. They honor this relationship by seeking blessings, making offerings, and performing sacred rituals.
The zebu holds immense cultural, economic, and spiritual significance for the Malagasy people. These cattle are more than just livestock; they symbolize wealth, status, and prosperity. Zebus play a central role in agricultural life, assisting with plowing fields and transporting goods, making them indispensable in rural communities.
