Zara Aina

ZARA AINA IS A MALAGASY PHRASE THAT MEANS SHARE LIFE. BROADWAY ACTORS LUCAS CALEB ROONEY AND BRYCE PINKHAM FOUNDED ZARA AINA TO HELP AT-RISK CHILDREN EXPAND THEIR CAPACITY FOR ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE AND STORYTELLING. ESTABLISHED IN 2012 WITH HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK, ZARA AINA IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE PROGRAMS THAT EMPOWER AND CHANGE LIVES.

MADA NEW CENTER: THROUGH NUMEROUS COVID-RELATED DELAYS, THE STAFF CONTINUED WORKING THROUGH THE THREESTAGES OF OBTAINING BUILDING PERMITS TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION ON THE NEW PERMANENT ZARAAINA CENTER, FOR WHICH WE COMPLETED OUR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AT THE END OF 2020. THEYCOMPLETED ALL PERMITS AND BEGAN CONSTRUCTION ON THE NEW CENTER. BY DECEMBER 2022,THE STAFF BROKE GROUND, COMPLETING A MALAGASY RITUAL TO BLESS THE LAND.

YOUTH COMPANY & ANTANANARIVO CLUBHOUSE: IN 2022 THE MALAGASY STAFF CONTINUED PROGRAMMING AT THE ZARA AINA RENTED CENTER FOR A SMALL GROUP OF 3RD AND 4TH YEAR STUDENTS ALONG WITH NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN. IN JULY OF 2022, THE MALAGASY STAFF AND STUDENTS ACCOMPANIED AMERICAN TEENAGERS ANDCHAPERONES FROM RHINEBECK, NY ON A TOUR AROUND MADAGASCAR. 11 ZARA AINA STUDENTSPERFORMED AN ORIGINAL SHOW FOR 5 DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, REACHING HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THEY SHARED CULTURE, FOOD, DANCE, AND MUSIC WITH AMERICAN STUDENTS AND RURAL MALAGASY STUDENTS. THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE YEAR, THE CENTER PROVIDED ZARA AINA SIGNATURE THEATRICAL AND DANCE PROGRAMMING. THE ZARA AINA CENTER CONTINUED THEIR PARTNERSHIPS WITH FELLOW NGO, MANDA, THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS IN ANTANANARIVO, THE BRITISH SCHOOL, AND THE LOCAL GROCERY CHAIN, BII (FORMERLY FOODWISE). THE STUDENTS CONTINUED TAKING ENGLISH AND FRENCH CLASSES AND DOING VIGOROUS TEST PREP THROUGHOUT 2022. THE MALAGASY STAFF EXPOSED THE STUDENTS TO NUMEROUS PROFESSIONAL GUEST ARTISTS IN 2022INCLUDING SEVERAL DANCE WORKSHOPS.

MOBILE LIBRARY: LAUNCHED IN 2016 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UK-BASED VAPE CLUB, ZARA AINAS MOBILE LIBRARY PROJECT DISTRIBUTES USEFUL BOOKS TO RURAL VILLAGES ACROSS FOUR REGIONS OF MADAGASCAR. THE BOOKS FOCUS ON PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE SUCH AS WAYS TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES, FAMILY RELATIONS AND HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, SEXUAL HEALTH, DIY AND TRADES. IN 2018, THE MOBILE LIBRARY CONTINUED TO DISTRIBUTE SEEDS AND FRUIT TREES TO PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES, ALONG WITH LITERATURE ABOUT CARE AND CULTIVATION.WHEN THE LIBRARY IS NOT ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN A TOUR, THE VAN IS USED BY ZARA AINA STAFF TO TRANSPORT THE YOUTH COMPANY AND ZARA AINA OVERSEES THE OVERALL OPERATION OF THE PROGRAM AND PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO LIBRARY STAFF.