Zarasoa is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit based in California that primarily facilitates and funds grassroots projects in Madagascar. We work primarily in the sectors of environment, water, education, and women-led projects.
Zarasoa’s goal is to connect good ideas and hardworking people in Madagascar with the funding, logistics, and in-country support to help realize community-led development initiatives. We especially focus on projects and ideas that can be supported in the long term without the need for continued funding from foreign sources.
Zarasoa was founded by former Peace Corps Madagascar volunteers. The ideas came about through countless conversations with friends, government officials, business leaders, and non-profits, both Malagasy and U.S.-based. Together they planned on addressing what they found to be missing in modern “development” work going on in Madagascar.
A problem with big development agencies is that they, at top levels, have little idea of what is going on at the local level, and large amounts of money flow into projects that are not always tailored to the needs of everyday people on the ground. Many organizations, big or small, are micromanaged by foreigners who put their own ideas and solutions in place without fitting them fully into a Malagasy context.
William and Alyson believe their mission is not to help or to fix problems in Madagascar, but just to facilitate good ideas and good projects from qualified and hardworking Malagasy people spearheading Malagasy solutions. Zarasoa translates to “sharing good“. We strongly believe that a multi-lateral approach to sustainable development means incorporating local wisdom and innovation.
For this reason, Zarasoa is principally concerned with finding Malagasy-founded and managed projects, with strong community support, led by individuals who have a vested interest at a community level.
Sincerely,
The Zarasoa Team
Our hearts are in everything that we do.
ZARASOA was founded to ensure that connections with friends, neighbors, and mentors in Madagascar that led to an increased cross-cultural understanding and opportunity for development were sustained. After living in rural Madagascar for a year, the founders of ZARASOA had an understanding of the potential of local leaders to address the lack of critical needs within their neighborhoods. It is our hope that we can mobilize resources to increase access to water, alternative measures to deforestation, and job opportunities for women.
