Santa brings gifts to Fiadanana's Children

Dear Friends of Zahana,

We just got these pictures by email from Madagascar and have posted them on the website right away.

Our special thanks go to the “WMG”, the “Wednesday Morning Group” for their support. The WMG is a local association based in capital Antananarivo, who generously provided the gifts for the children.

For Photos of the 2006 Holiday Celebration click here

Santa Claus came to visit the students of our new school in Fiadanana for the first time ever. Although he needed to find his way over there to the other side of the world, he was assisted by Zahana’s two teachers to distribute the gifts.

This was the first time in their life the children got a gift at all. Each of the very excited children got a bag with the following contents:

• 2 notebooks and a pencil
• Candies and a package of cookies
• A can of milk
• A toothbrush and tooth paste
• And a bar of soap to wash their hands and body
  

Waiting for the gifts to be distributed

The two teachers distributing the gifts

Children unpacking the gifts and holding up the cookies

Rhodina, the teacher, explaining the propper use of the toothbrush

The parents were especially pleased that they got a can of milk, a rare treat and luxury in a village in Madagascar.

We hope you have a joyous Holiday Season and a Happy New Year
Jeannette and Markus