Ecole de Vie, Madagascar Tullow Oil Cup

Madagascar – Ecole du Vie - Hosted by Heathside

The School of the Life of Madagascar (Ecole de Vie) was set up in 1999. Its objective is to support the development of projects created to help improve the lives of disadvantaged communities with particular focus on children, their education, health and general welfare. There are now 24 Schools of Life in Antananarivo.

In 2000 'The School of Rugby, School of Life' was established to give children an opportunity to play sport and get fit. The school is now run by the Malagasy Rugby Union.

The clubs are based in neighbourhoods around major cities at sports centres and playgrounds and in many cases old rice fields- not the most suitable fields for rugby. More than 5000 street children between 8 to 16 years attend the rugby school twice a week. Many of these children have had no education and come from broken homes.

As an Emerging Rugby School the RFU were delighted they won with the help of the Madagascans. The Ecole de Vie boys were delightful and though they had little English and their host little French they seemed to gel very well.

The staff and parents at Heathside should be commended on their efforts and support for the group.
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