"They really care about us": Students' bonds with their Jeune Leader CSE teachers

Do you remember what it felt like in school when a teacher was warm and approachable? When they were teaching, time seemed to fly by. You maybe even looked forward to their class.

After training public middle school teachers across Madagascar to become “Jeune Leader” comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) teachers, they were ready to become one of these outstanding, accessible educators and role models for their students. 

We set out to visit 20 of these CSE teachers and meet their students across some of our partner middle schools in three regions of Madagascar. We wanted to see firsthand how Jeune Leader teachers were transforming the classroom atmosphere and building meaningful relationships with their students.

Some of our team headed to the Androy region in the south. Others traveled together to the Vatovavy region in the east. And another group made their way to the Vakinankaratra region in the central highlands.

Across all three regions, we found that three qualities consistently stood out in how students described their Jeune Leader teacher:

Engaging with students in a balanced, respectful way

Students from all three regions shared that their CSE teachers always make an effort to understand how students are feeling, and are masterful at adapting their words and behaviors accordingly.

A student in Vatovavy put it this way:

"The Jeune Leader teacher never loses his temper, even when a student does something wrong... he always speaks with respect."

A student in Vakinankaratra shared:

"The Jeune Leader teacher never puts a student down. She knows how to have positive, harmonious relationships with students. She knows how to reach their hearts."

And students in Androy offered a simple but meaningful observation:

"The Jeune Leader teacher has a good personality."

Friendly and approachable

Many students noted that their Jeune Leader teacher makes a point of being cheerful, warm, and welcoming — not just during class, but in everyday interactions outside of it, too.

One student from a middle school in Vakinankaratra said:

"The Jeune Leader teacher is always happy and never gets angry easily. He is friendly with students, easy to be around, and knows how to put us at ease."

In Vatovavy, a student shared:

"It's really nice being around the Jeune Leader teacher. She's down-to-earth and loves to sing."

"It's a pleasure talking with the Jeune Leader teacher," added another student from Vatovavy. "He treats us like his own children."

A third student from the same region added:

"It's never difficult to talk to the Jeune Leader teacher. She's never judgemental about the questions we ask."

Treating everyone equally

Across all three regions, the phrase our team heard most often from students was that their Jeune Leader teacher treats everyone the same and values every student's opinion.

A student from Vakinankaratra said of their teacher:

"When he explains a lesson, he always asks for students' input. He knows how to listen and take students' ideas into account."

And this observation from a student in Vatovavy stood out to us:

"The teacher doesn't play favorites — like, 'I'll focus on the 9th graders because they have their exams coming up,' or 'I'll only pay attention to the 6th graders because they're new.' Everyone gets the same treatment."

It's clear that students feel genuinely valued:

"They care about their students." (Vakinankaratra)

"They really care about us." (Androy)

The relationship between students and their Jeune Leader teachers is clearly warm, grounded, and built on trust. For these students, their CSE teacher isn't just a teacher; they're an older sibling, a friend, and a trusted adult. That's the feeling that came through again and again, listening to students whether from the east, the south, and the highlands.

"They're so great that even when class ends at noon, noon feels like it comes too soon," one student in Vatovavy said. Not a sentiment one would expect to hear from a middle schooler…

And that connection has real benefits: students are more motivated to come to school, they have a trusted confidant to turn to for guidance, and — perhaps most importantly — they're better able to take in and hold onto what they learn during CSE classes: knowledge and skills that will help them thrive during adolescence and beyond.