September 17, 2026 - Osmar Medina

There was a time when Hery* couldn't run. At 14 years old, he remembers being too weak to keep up with other children. He loved soccer, but his body simply didn't have the strength to play. Food was often scarce at home, and after losing his father, his mother struggled even more to provide for the family.

"I was really weak and I could not run," Hery shared.
 

For many children growing up in this community in Madagascar, stories like Hery's are all too common. Poverty, unemployment, and rising food prices make it difficult for families to meet even their most basic needs. Children can grow up without consistent access to nutritious food or education, limiting opportunities that could help them build a different future.

Through the Madagascar Street Kids Center, the Church of the Nazarene is working alongside children and families facing these challenges. Children come to the center for nutritious meals and education, but they also find a safe place to spend time with friends, play, learn about God, and simply be children.

For Hery, regular meals made a noticeable difference. Little by little, he became stronger. Today, the boy who once didn't have the strength to run spends his afternoons playing the sport he loves.

"I can run and play soccer with my friends, and I am really happy," he said. "Thanks to God and thanks to everyone on this project."

Hundreds of children and their families are connected to the center. Some children arrive needing help with basic reading and writing, and teachers spend time helping them build those skills. Others are preparing for national exams. This year, every fifth-grade student from the center who took the national examination passed, an important accomplishment for the students and the teachers who have worked alongside them.

Faith is also part of daily life at the center. Children memorize scripture, learn Bible stories, and worship together. Sometimes, what they learn follows them home. Five-year-old Lala* likes to repeat the Bible verses she learns at the center to her mother each evening. Now, her mother attends church with her every Sunday.

The children have plenty of opportunities to play and try new things, too. They play soccer and basketball, draw, dance, and learn skills like sewing. They also take responsibility for small tasks around the center, including serving meals and helping clean their classrooms. These everyday moments are another part of what makes the center a place where children can feel supported and continue learning.
 

The work isn't without challenges. Madagascar continues to face economic hardship and rising food costs, and many communities have limited access to clean water. Parents contribute what they are able to, while pastors, teachers, and staff continue serving the children and their families.

Some of the clearest signs of the center's impact can be seen in the lives of children who attended years ago. Former students have become teachers, university graduates, church leaders, and professionals. Some have even returned to serve others facing circumstances similar to their own.

Mbolatiana Fetra Elyse is one of those former students. After losing both of her parents, she received support through the center and continued her education. Today, she works as a teacher and serves in her local church.

Fanomezantsoa also grew up facing poverty and attended the center as a child. He later went on to university and now hopes to support his family while encouraging children who are growing up with some of the same challenges he experienced.

For children like Hery, Lala, Mbolatiana, and Fanomezantsoa, the center has been part of their lives at very different stages. Their stories are different, and some are still just beginning. But each one shows what can happen when a child has people willing to walk alongside them with food, education, faith, and consistent care.

Hery's story is still being written. For now, though, there is one change he can see and feel for himself. He can run again. He can play soccer with his friends. And the circumstances he faced as a child don't have to decide where his story goes next.

*Names changed for safety.