Visits to Our New Partners: Building trust with local education leaders

The first chapter in our journey to scale!

Starting in September 2025, our comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) program will roll out in 1,747 public middle schools across 16 regions of Madagascar—made possible through our partnership with the Malagasy Ministry of Education (MEN)!

After more than a decade of experience, we know that successfully scaling up means embedding in existing structures, staying grounded in local realities, and—above all—building strong, trusting relationships with Ministry officials and local authorities. That’s why we began our national expansion by building relationships with partners in our new regions of work.

Mamisoa and Chrystian (our Technical Managers) and Mihaja (our M&E Manager) hit the road. Each traveled with one of our Technical Assistants and a representative from the central Ministry of Education to meet our new decentralized partners in the regions where we’re expanding.

They have shared with us their stories, insights, and reflections from their journey across the island!

Their thoughts on why these field visits matter :

CHRYS

These visits meant a lot to Projet Jeune Leader (PJL). They gave us the opportunity to talk directly with our new partners about what our CSE program is really about—and the bigger vision behind it. It’s just so much easier to share our message, our energy, and what we believe in when we’re speaking face-to-face, rather than through formal documents. Being there in person helps people truly understand the program and that makes it easier for them to connect with it and want to get involved. 

MIHAJA

These visits were also really important for building trust and showing that PJL and our program are credible and legitimate—especially in regions where we’ve never worked before. That’s why we made the trip with a representative from the national Ministry of Education. It was a way of showing respect to our new partners, letting them know we’re here to listen and collaborate, not to impose something that might not match their needs. This kind of approach helps create strong relationships and real trust between everyone involved in this scale-up.

MAMISOA

The visits also helped us get a better understanding of the local contexts where the new CSE Educators will be working. Every region is unique, with its own realities. Talking directly with local leaders and Ministry representatives gave us helpful tips and insights on how to better connect with each community.

It was also a chance to see how easy—or difficult—it is to reach some of these areas. That’s key for planning the work of our Technical Coordinators, who will be supporting and guiding the new government teachers as they get started.

What struck them the most on their journeys :

MAMISOA

Honestly, what stood out the most was the warm welcome we received from local partners! In Antsohihy district, for example, the head of the Regional Teacher Training Center truly touched us. We were running late because of the road, and he kept calling to check in and see how we were doing. Since it was getting late, he even booked a hotel for us and said, “Don’t worry, we’ve got it covered—it’s the least we can do.”

More broadly, I was genuinely moved by the dedication and motivation of everyone we met. It really inspired me—and made me even more determined not to let them down.

MIHAJA

What really stayed with me was the energy and high hopes of the Ministry of Education representatives in every region we visited. Some Directors of the Regional Teacher Training Centers had already heard about the pilot program with teachers in the Haute Matsiatra region and couldn’t wait to see it launched in their own centers. Many of them told us they’d love to see the CSE teacher training become part of the standard curriculum in all teacher training centers. The local leaders are also expecting real impact from the program in their communities. They believe it can truly make a difference and see it as a key part of improving education in Madagascar. Like us, they’re hoping it will lead to lasting change.

CHRYS

I was really touched by how people responded during our visits. They’re eager to team up with PJL and the Ministry of Education to bring the program to life. Many of them opened up about the challenges they face—things like early marriage, teen pregnancy, and students dropping out of school. They truly believe that the PJL program can create real change in their communities. That kind of trust makes me proud. And it pushes me to give my best, every step of the way.

Their biggest takeaways from these trips and meetings :

MIHAJA

I loved every bit of these trips! It felt amazing to have some real adventures out on the roads of Madagascar. I have a feeling the Technical Coordinators are going to love it too! We had such a good time in the car—singing, chatting, and even making up our own little radio show. And honestly, I think these trips really mattered. So many of the people we met could end up being amazing ambassadors for our program in their communities.

MAMISOA

I was a bit stressed about traveling across the country, especially knowing how bad the roads can get in the north. But at the same time, I couldn’t wait to go. I knew people were waiting for us, and they had high hopes for the PJL program being introduced in their local schools. Plus, it was my first time seeing so much of the country!

In the end, despite a few bumps along the way—like flat tires and brake issues—everything went smoothly! I’m so glad we were traveling as a team. We got along great, kept each other motivated, and made the most of it. We even took a flight at one point—which was Nasolo’s (our Technical Assistant’s) first time on a plane! That made the trip even more special.

CHRYS

I’ve been working at Projet Jeune Leader since 2013. Back when I was a PJL Educator myself, I never imagined we’d get to this point—16 regions! While I was on the road, I kept passing by schools, and it made me feel so proud knowing that, starting next school year, these students there will be part of the PJL program.

Follow our journey to scale up through our blog series “Behind the Scenes : Scaling CSE in Madagascar”.

We’re just getting started! From training sessions to field deployments—we’re sharing it all in the next chapters!