Craft Training and Production Workshops (AFPA)

		Sector: Vocational Training Location: Antananarivo, Madagascar Local Partner: Accueil des Sans-Abri (ASA) (Accomodating the homeless)    Start of Partnership: 1995

Context and Considerations

Madagascar’s capital city witnesses a daily influx of rural families, forced to migrate because of land-related problems which make it impossible to make a living out of farming. These populations join the numerous homeless living in the poor neighbourhoods of the city, deprived of favourable future perspectives.

Solution Proposed

After conducting a thorough investigation on the living conditions of the homeless in Antananarivo in 1994, the Malagasy association ASA (Accueil des sans-abri – Accommodating the Homeless) launched 2 programmes to enable them to provide for their own needs and to build a better future. The 2 programmes are based on professional training and intend to provide the beneficiaries with humane and behavioural teachings to help them fit in their society.

One of the 2 programmes aims at re-integrating the former homeless in the town of Antananarivo (when the other allows the families to settle in new villages in the bush). The urban programme was launched in 2002, in partnership with IECD and with the support of the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

The training’s main challenge is to provide the homeless with professional skills which will allow them to either launch their own activity or find a remunerated job. They are trained in handicraft jobs, for the Antananarivo craft sector has immense employment potential. The one-year training in the Craft Training Centre is divided into 2 parts: a six-month training in which the required handicraft and management techniques are taught, followed by six months of production training in order to strengthen the beneficiaries’ experience. After this year, all participants are guaranteed a post-training follow-up in order to give them the technical, administrative and social support they might require.

Impact and Results

Since its creation, the CFA has trained 6 classes, in total about 350 handicraftsmen out of whom 80% are employed. The programme benefits indirectly to all their families who are witnessing an improvement of their living conditions. The 7th class started its training in October 2010.