Hands open
for a smile
We nourish hope in Madagascar. Maria No Fanantenana is the Madonna della Speranza association's canteen project for the poor in Itaosy, Antananarivo.
of the population in Madagascar lives on less than €2.15 per day.
children under 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition.
An outstretched hand that restores dignity: a hot meal three times a week in Itaosy, Madagascar.
See the canteen with your own eyes
Video of the day, children's smiles
Let us nourish hope in Madagascar
The canteen of Ambodifasika, Itaosy — a suburb of Antananarivo — opens on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and welcomes anyone who is hungry: children, the elderly, young mothers, people with disabilities. Without distinction of religion, sex or linguistic background. The meal is provided free of charge.
With €250 you finance a full week. Every cent is monitored on site through our local representative. Weekly, or whenever needed, we hold a video call to follow the progress of the project and we regularly receive videos from the canteen.
Discover the Canteen
Life at the canteen
From Italy to Madagascar
This long journey to discover a world different from ours, where poverty is a real problem for many people. Through our travels we realized that a canteen could help many people to have a meal and support them in their suffering.
Illustrations created with artificial intelligence
A week at the canteen
MondayKitchen opens
The cooks light the fires at dawn. Rice, legumes and fresh vegetables and sometimes also meat, bought from local market vendors.
WednesdayEveryone come sit at the table!
Children, the elderly, young mothers and people with disabilities eat together. Hygiene, singing and a short common prayer.
FridayHope at home
Volunteers bring meals to the elderly and sick who cannot reach the canteen. No one is left behind.
With €250 you feed an entire community for a week.
Open hands means offering concrete help without holding anything back; a smile is dignity returning when a person feels accepted and welcomed. 160 meals in the canteen, 27 external meals and meals for workers and volunteers. No intermediaries.