Razafindrakoto Lala and Razafinjato Fela, both living with disabilities, founded the Sembana Mijoro Center in 2003 to support children and young people with disabilities. The inauguration of new premises on October 28, 2026, in Ambohidrano, within the commune of Sabotsy Namehana, marks a new milestone in their commitment to the autonomy and development of the beneficiaries.
“Disability is not an obstacle to an individual’s fulfillment; one must simply accept it and live with it.” This conviction guides the actions of the two founders. Since its inception, the center has moved several times, from Ambohimanarina to Ambohibao, before settling at its current site. The new facilities bring together various services designed to support individuals with intellectual disabilities or cerebral palsy.
Beyond providing care, the goal is to develop their capabilities and foster independence. The support combines education, medical monitoring, and paramedical assistance. Physiotherapy and occupational therapy help with learning daily tasks, while music therapy contributes to the development of the children and youth. The support aims to enable them to gradually perform certain tasks with less help and gain independence.
The center has a capacity of forty people but currently hosts sixteen. Beneficiaries are housed in a boarding facility and return to their families on weekends. Support is tailored to individual needs, especially for those with severe physical and intellectual disabilities. The activities offered go beyond care and education. A layer hen farm and a vegetable garden allow beneficiaries to learn practical tasks. This approach aims to develop their skills and prepare them, according to their potential, for professional integration. Valuing individual abilities thus plays an important role in the support provided.
The care process also involves families. A financial contribution is requested from parents, based on case-by-case assessments. The needs of the beneficiaries and the situation of the families are taken into account to offer appropriate support. The construction of the new premises benefited from the support of partners, particularly for project financing and the installation of essential equipment, including a solar energy system and a borehole. These improvements allow for the consolidation of various services on a single site and improve reception conditions.
Through this initiative, Lala Razafindrakoto and Fela Razafinjato show that disability does not prevent one from leading a project in the service of others. Their commitment helps provide the children and youth they support with opportunities for learning, fulfillment, and autonomy. Learning a daily gesture, participating in an activity, or performing a task with less assistance constitutes concrete progress. The challenge is to give everyone the means to develop their capabilities and take their place in society.
Captured & Published at: 2026-10-29 05:39:07 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/10/insertion-sociale-un-couple-dhandicapes.html