Bloco Malagasy: The project

The Bloco Malagasy is a group of Batucada (Brazilian percussion), consisting of girls from underprivileged neighborhoods of Toliara (Madagascar)

The Bloco Malagasy is a group of Batucada (Brazilian percussion), consisting of girls from underprivileged neighborhoods of Toliara (Madagascar).

The Bloco Malagasy performs shows to defend universal rights by encouraging cultural exchange through solidarity.

The Bloco Malagasy was formed by European and Malagasy teachers, fusing rhythms from Brazil and Madagascar and creating a unique experience of international quality.

During performances, audiences are driven by the rhythms, dance and smiles  symbolizing the Malagasy people.

The Batucada


The Bloco Malagasy is formed by 25 girls merging rhythms of Brazil and Madagascar in creating a unique experience of international quality.

The Bloco Malagasy is a percussion group with experience at international level, it has already traveled a few major festivals in France, Switzerland, Andorra, Spain, Madagascar and Cambodia. This is a group of girls from disadvantaged neighborhoods Toliara.




They are among the students of CAM (Centre Art and Music) of NGO Coconut Watrer in Toliara (Madagascar).

The Bloco Malagasy performs shows to defend universal human rights by encouraging cultural exchange through solidarity.

The project

For several years, the NGO Coconut Water has developed two structures to better coordinate all of its extra-curricular activities for students in schools of Toliara (Madagascar) as part of our basic education program. In 2012, the Art and Music Center of Toliara (CAM) begins gathering activities such as Ballroom, the Modern Jazz, Batucada Bloco Malagasy, Malagasy Gospel Choir, the Roda Malagasy Capoiera or learning the guitar and piano.



The CAM has considerably expanded its activities to young people from Toliara. This program of Basic Education has the overall objective of enabling all children to receive a quality education by providing a particular response to three specific problems of southern Madagascar:

  • Low enrollment of children from poor families
    (60% of school children in urban areas and only 23% in rural areas) (source EDSMD IV 2008-2009)
  • A very high dropout rates in primary and secondary cycles
    (55% dropout in primary at national level - one child attending college reached 3) (Source EPM 2010 - Unicef)
  • The large number of children at harmful work (27% of children in Madagascar)
    (source: National Survey on Child Labour - 2007)
     

    Biographies 


    Jose Luis Guirao, NGO Bel Avenir director

    In 1992, as a veterinary surgeon graduated, Jose Luis launched onto cooperation field taking part on several projects about cattle’s health inspection, agricultural development and on field study in Cambodia, Ruanda, Comoros islands and Brazil. After many years of experience and work in conflict and difficult access areas, he settled down in Madagascar where he has led development programs throughout education since 1997. The strengthening of those projects carried to the launch of the NGO Bel Avenir in 2003.
    His devotion and motivation for fighting against poverty enable over 30 000 people, mainly children and teenagers, to benefit from environmental educational, sanitarian and social projects in one of the poorest region in the world: the south of Madagascar.
     Jose Luis Guirao, diretor da ONG Bel Avenir

    Após licenciar-se em medicina veterinária em 1992 se lançou ao mundo da cooperação colaborando com projetos de controle sanitário de gado, desenvolvimento agrícola e estudo do terreno do Camboja, Ruanda, Ilhas Comores e Brasil. Após anos de experiência e trabalho em zonas de conflito e de difícil acesso se estabeleceu em Madagascar onde começou vários programas de desenvolvimento através da educação desde 1997. A consolidação destes programas permitiu o nascimento da ONG Bel Avenir, que dirige desde 2003. Sua grande dedicação e motivação por lutar contra a pobreza beneficiou a mais de 30.000 pessoas, em sua maioria crianças e jovens, através de um projeto de educação ambiental, sanitária e social em uma das zonas mais pobres do planeta: o sul de Madagascar. 


    Jose Luis Guirao, directeur de l’ONG Bel Avenir


    Après une maîtrise de vétérinaire en 1992, Jose Luis se lance dans le monde de la coopération en collaborant pour des projets de contrôle sanitaire de bétail, de développement agricole et d’études de terrain au Cambodge, au Rwanda, aux Comores et au Brésil. Après plusieurs années d’expérience en zones de conflit et difficiles d’accès, Jose Luis s’installe à Madagascar où il initie plusieurs projets de développement axés sur l’éducation de base depuis 1997. Le renforcement de ces projets permet la création de l’ONG Bel Avenir en 2003, dont il est le directeur. Son engagement solide et sa motivation à lutter contre la pauvreté ont permis au fil des années à plus de 30 000 personnes, en majorité des enfants et des jeunes, de bénéficier des projets d’éducation de base, d’éducation environnementale, de lutte contre le travail infantile et l’exclusion sociale dans le sud de Madagascar, une des zones les plus pauvres de la planète.
     

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    Toky Florette, Bloco Malagasy group manager

    She has been involved with the percussion group since its foundation in 2008. By that time, she was a shy teenager with high risk of social exclusion because of her family’s poverty status. Effort and devotion turned her into a self-sufficient person with great communication skills and manager of over 70 youngsters group who are on a similar life position as she was at that age.
    In addition of being the Bloco Malagasy leader, she works as social employees’ coordinator at the Center of Art and Music, where the group of batucada has its headquarter. She has become the voice in favour of a better future for all the young Malagasy women and this message has already sprayed out in dozens of national and international media. After five years of studies in law and geography, Toky’s motivation is now to start a communication carrier and to specialise in public relations.
    Toky Florette, diretora do grupo Bloco Malagasy

    Toky está envolvida com grupo de percussão Bloco Malagasy desde sua fundação em 2008. Na época era uma adolescente tímida com alto risco de exclusão social devido à situação de pobreza de sua família e eu habitat. Graças a seu esforço e dedicação, hoje em dia Toky é uma jovem independente, com grandes dotes de comunicação e responsável por um grupo de mais de 70 meninas e jovens com os mesmos problemas que ela sofria sete anos atrás. Além de dirigir o Bloco Malagasy, trabalha como coordenadora dos trabalhadores sociais do Centro de Arte e Música onde o grupo de batucada tem sua sede.
    Seu trabalho principal como responsável do grupo Bloco Malagasy lhe tornou a voz transmissora de uma mensagem de luta pela melhora do futuro das mulheres jovens de Madagascar. Voz que há ressoado em dezenas de meios de comunicação nacionais e internacionais. Por isso, apesar de seus cinco anos de estudos universitários em direito e geografia, a jovem decidiu começar a carreira de comunicação, uma matéria com a que pretende aprofundar-se no campo das relações públicas e sociais que tanto a apaixonam.


    Toky Florette, directrice du groupe Bloco Malagasy 

    Toky s’embarque dans le groupe de percussions dès la création de ce dernier en 2008 alors qu’elle est à l’époque une adolescente timide et fortement exposée au risque d’exclusion sociale en raison de la situation défavorisée de sa famille et de son entourage. Grâce à son implication et à son talent, Toky est aujourd’hui une jeune femme indépendante, responsable d’un groupe de plus de 70 jeunes filles exposées aux mêmes risques qu’elle auparavant. En plus de diriger le Bloco Malagasy, Toky occupe également le poste de coordinatrice des animateurs sociaux du Centre d’Art et Musique où le groupe de percussions a son siège.

    Son travail en tant que responsable du groupe Bloco Malagasy l’a transformée en la voix porteuse d’un message de lutte en faveur d’un meilleur futur pour les jeunes femmes malgaches, message qui a déjà fait de nombreux échos dans des dizaines de média nationaux et internationaux. C’est ce qui motive aujourd’hui Toky, après 5 années d’études de droit et de géographie, à envisager une carrière en communication et à se spécialiser par la suite dans la branche des relations publiques auxquelles elle a pris goût.
     
     

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