Hands open
for a smile
We nourish hope in Madagascar. Maria No Fanantenana is a project of the Madonna della Speranza association, a canteen 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
A day in pictures, the children's smiles
We nourish hope in Madagascar
The canteen in Ambodifasika, Itaosy, a suburb of Antananarivo, opens on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It welcomes anyone who is hungry, children, the elderly, young single mothers and people with disabilities. Regardless of religion, gender or language. The meal is free of charge.
With €250 you finance a full week. Every cent is monitored on site through our local representative. Every week, or whenever needed, we hold a video call to follow the project, and we regularly receive videos from the canteen.
Discover the Canteen
Life at the canteen
From Italy to Madagascar
A long journey to discover a world different from ours, where poverty is a real problem for many people. On our travels we realized that a canteen could give many people a meal and support them in their suffering.
Illustrations created with artificial intelligence
A week at the canteen
MondayThe kitchen opens
The cooks light the fires at dawn. Rice, legumes, fresh vegetables and sometimes meat, all bought from local market vendors.
WednesdayEveryone at the table
Children, the elderly, young single mothers and people with disabilities eat together. Hand washing, singing and a short shared prayer.
FridayHope comes to the door
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 real help without holding anything back. A smile is the dignity that returns when a person feels accepted and welcomed. 160 meals in the canteen, 27 meals for deliveries, workers and volunteers. No intermediaries.