“This craft was not just a pastime; it was our lifeline.”
Lalao grew up in the Antananarivo-Renivohitra district, located in the Central Highlands of Madagascar, a large island country located on the east coast of Africa.
Historically one of the major weaving centres in the region, Madagascar is home to a wide range of textiles, including silk, cotton, and raffia. As such, handweaving and textiles became not only part of economic livelihoods, but steeped into Malagasy traditions and sociocultural identity.
Growing up, Lalao watched her mother weave vibrant and elaborate patterns with raffia, a natural fibre harvested from raffia palm trees, which flourish in Madagascar’s tropical climate.
“The art of weaving mats has been a cornerstone of my family’s livelihood for as long as I can remember,” says Lalao. “It was not just about putting food on the table – it was about preserving our traditions and ensuring our wellbeing.”
After her husband passed away, Lalao and her children moved back into her childhood home, where they now live with Lalao’s mother and sister.
“As a mother of three, I find it a real struggle to support the whole family… My sister is working as a housemaid too, but we are still struggling,” says Lalao. Lalao’s eldest daughter also has a chronic medical condition which requires continuous care.
After dropping out of primary school to help her parents sell goods in the street, Lalao struggled to find stable employment. Lalao found work as a domestic worker, but faced verbal abuse, stagnant wages, and lack of job security.
“I struggled to find decent work, and I sometimes feel discriminated against,” shares Lalao.
In Madagascar, around 71 percent of women participate in the labour force, compared to almost 83 percent of men (World Bank). Employed women are also overrepresented among domestic workers and in subsistence farming, and have limited access to career advancement opportunities and more secure, higher-paying jobs.
“If I have to compare men and women… women and girls will struggle a lot to get even a portion of training opportunities [available to men]. In Madagascar, men are more open to employment opportunities than women and girls,” says Lalao.
A lack of financial independence often affects women’s health and well-being. For example, they may be more at risk of gender-based violence, or more likely to marry and become pregnant at a young age. They might also have less of a voice within their homes, unable to share opinions or contribute to decisions that affect them.
With support from Canada, AKF is working with La Plateforme, a local civil society organization in Madagascar. Known in the community as the Tantsoroka Project – a word in Malagasy meaning mentorship – this project aims to provide women with vocational and skills training, and better access to employment opportunities and economic and financial services.
Along with five other women in her training program, Lalao is currently learning how to craft and crochet raffia bags at Made for a Woman, a women-led fashion brand in Madagascar partnering with La Plateforme. Through innovative partnerships with employers like Made for a Woman, La Plateforme also works with businesses to address norms that hinder women’s economic participation, provide role model and mentorship opportunities, and foster inclusive workplaces.
“The interaction with the trainer is incredibly rewarding,” says Lalao. “Despite my tendency to work at a slower pace, [the teacher] demonstrates understanding and flexibility and allows me to progress at my own rhythm.”
When Lalao finishes the training program, she hopes to continue refining and expanding her textile skills and share her learnings with other women in her community.
“I believe in the importance of empowering and uplifting fellow women, and I see this as an opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of others,” says Lalao.
For Lalao, this training program has led to a boost in confidence and a renewed hope for her and her family’s future.
With a stable income, Lalao can continue supporting her family. “I can now envision a future where my daughters can pursue higher education,” says Lalao.
“For my daughters and me, we aspire to one-day purchase land and build our own home,” says Lalao. “This shared dream fuels our determination to work hard and seize every opportunity that comes our way.”
This project is part of the Advancing Gender Equality through Civil Society (AGECS) component of the Foundations for Education and Empowerment (F4EE) program. AGECS aims to partner with local civil society organizations to address sociocultural barriers to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
