Toko Telo: A Home and a Family for 250 Children in Antananarivo

It’s 7:00 a.m. in Antananarivo. In the courtyard of the Loharanosoa Toko Telo center, the first bursts of laughter can already be heard. The older children are helping the younger ones put on their shoes before school; the smell of hot rice wafts from the kitchen. Nothing out of the ordinary, on the surface. And yet, for the 250 children who live here, this ordinary morning is anything but a given.

It all began with a piece of land and a determination

The story of Loharanosoa Toko Telo begins with a couple, Antonis and Hantaniaina, and a simple donation of land. No budget, no large organization behind them—just a refusal to accept that so many children were growing up without a home.

Faced with a social crisis that left too many orphans and vulnerable children without recourse, they decided to take action with what they had: that piece of land and their determination.

The Difficult Years

The early days were tough. For a long time, the center survived on sporadic donations, which were never guaranteed from one month to the next. There was a time when the kitchen ran out of pots, and exhausted volunteers began to leave.

Nothing stopped them—not even the day when there was nothing left to cook with.

It was this perseverance—in moments when everything could have come to a halt—that forged the center’s spirit.

Partners Who Believed in the Project

In 2009, during a visit to the site in Anosy Avaratra, the company eTech discovered the couple’s work and decided to support them over the long term. This partnership, which is still active today, has enabled the center to emerge from a state of constant uncertainty and build on a solid foundation.

This proves that a commitment—even a modest one at first—can bring about lasting change in the lives of hundreds of children. And that is exactly what we are inviting new partners, sponsors, and donors to join us in doing today.

Today, a True Family

Ten years later, several buildings have been constructed. The center is home to 250 children aged 2 to 18, has its own elementary school, and operates a free cafeteria open to all children, including those who do not live on site.

Here, they also learn teamwork and responsibility: the children help tend the vegetable garden and maintain the grounds, each knowing that this is their home. Toko Telo is both their home and their family.

Help write the next chapter with them

Antonis and Hantaniaina have proven that with determination and loyal support, it’s possible to transform a barren plot of land into a home for 250 children. The rest of this story now depends on you, too.

Support the 250 children of Toko Telo with a monthly donation: Friend (€25) for one child’s school supplies, Guardian (€50) for their daily meals, or Champion (€100) for their education. Click on “Make a Donation”; or email us at contact@toko-telo.mg to discuss a partnership.