Friends of Madagascar Trust NZ
Madagascar Mission
Sunergy are thrilled to be helping FoMTNZ to empower the Good News Hospital in Mandritsara. We’re heading back for stage 2 of the Solar Installation—and we need your help!
FoMTNZ
Join Us!
June 2026
Sunergy Solar are heading over again with a team this June 2026.
If you have relevant skills to help us install a 270-panel solar system and battery bank, or can help practically or financially
—we’d love to hear from you!
Fill in the form below, or give us a call
Help Practically
Join us in Madagascar!
Call or fill in the form.
We’ll be in touch to establish if you’re a match.
help financially
Funding
It costs $7-8k per person to go to Mandritsara. FoMT are generously committed to subsidising volunteer travel costs, while expecting volunteers to contribute or fundraise at least $3k.
However, this is not always possible for people, so your help is always appreciated!
Material Costs
It also costs many thousands to supply and ship equipment and materials. Sunergy are providing qualified, skilled labour, planning & management, and some tools & equipment. But in addition to generous subsidies from FoMT, the project mission is dependent on further donor support toward these costs.
Material Provisions
If you are a business in a position to provide equipment or materials for the solar installation, or for the mission in general, we’d love to hear from you.
Fundraising
Are you able to help fundraise? We have material to present to organisations, churches, businesses—if you can introduce us.
For financial contributions, contact the Friends of Madagascar Trust directly:
FoMTNZ
Phone Charles Dickey: +64 27 433 3541
Details
Going to Madagascar
Sunergy Solar have been going to Mandritsara since 2017. We will be there heading up the solar system install 2026 and beyond, but we need some more skilled people power.
Travel from the main city will be by light MAF plane—high above some of the worst roads in the world!—It’s epic, you’ll love it.
Madagascar is also one of the poorest countries in the world, so you will want to be reasonably fit and healthy.
Sunergy and the Trust are organising all the logistics for travel, accommodation and food. Be prepared for average 26ºC sunny days, hot work, and a rewarding experience of a lifetime!
WAYS YOU CAN HELP
VOLUNTEER
- We need skilled and unskilled people to travel with us:
- Industry Trades: Electrician, Solar Installer, Builder/Roofer
- Capable ‘handymen/women’ for general labour tasks
- Social and administrative help.
FUNDING
- Assist with travel costs, equipment costs, etc.
FUNDRAISING
- Introduce us to your org, church, or to businesses
PROVISIONS/EQUIPMENT
- Are you a business that can supply goods or services
WORD OF MOUTH
- Maybe you can’t, but someone you know can?…
About the Project
THE SITUATION IS DESPERATE
Electricity supply in the region is ‘shocking’—if there is any, it is very unreliable, intermittent and extremely poor quality, often ruining equipment. It is also extremely expensive and dirty, being generated by old diesel engines. Diesel is also hard to get, and the region can be without it for weeks or months at a time.
Currently the coastal region has been devastated by the recent cyclone, with infrastructure, fuel supply and power extremely limited.
It is critical that the hospital has a reliable power source from solar set up as soon as possible.
THE SOLUTION IS SOLAR
With a small system already in place, we are returning this year to begin installing a 270-panel system and battery bank. With a further 700+ panels, plus batteries planned over the next two years, this will provide enough power to run the hospital complex independent of the grid, with a constant, quality power source shielded from damaging spikes and surges.
A REWARDING EXPERIENCE
Those who have joined us agree: they have received more than they gave, with the amazing and rewarding experience of helping make a real difference to a desperate and worthy cause.
A HISTORY OF DEDICATION
Since 1990, the FoMT has been working in the Northern Madagascar town of Mandritsara, which is surrounded by a desperate lack of medical and educational facilities.
Since then, a hospital compound has been built and equipped, educational classrooms built, a radio station set up and communications systems installed for the hospital, as well as training for local doctors & nurses and an initial solar power system installed.
Be part of an epic trip!
Madagascar is an amazing experience.
Being part of making a real difference to a desperate situation is hugely rewarding.
Driving through residential Mandritsara
Mandritsara hospital from the air
installing solar at the Madagascar hospital
solar panels on implement shed Mandritsara hospital
hospital walkway
Sunergy installing solar inverters
Andy installing inverters Madagascar
Volunteer electrician work
Andy on the tools—radio solar install Madagascar
Sunergy Solar working, Madagascar
Dan from Sunergy with Madagascar locals
part of greeting ceremony
Installing solar inverters & batteries
Installing solar batteries & inverters
Surgery at Good News Hospital, Madagascar
Hospital room
a hospital yard
A hospital complex building
Mandritsara main street
Mandritsara looking down main street
boy on ox cart Mandritsara
Some of the worst roads in the world
Madagascar landscape enroute