Association Zazakely Madagascar

What Association Zazakely Madagascar does

Association Zazakely Madagascar is a French humanitarian non-profit (loi 1901) founded in 2001 by Alain and Rehana Colombatto with Albertine Razafimatratra, operating an integrated community center in the Mahazina quarter of Antsirabe, Madagascar's third-largest city. The organization serves approximately 300 disadvantaged children and youth through a multi-domain program that includes formal schooling from kindergarten through CM2, tutoring through the Baccalauréat, vocational training, a school canteen serving roughly 250 meals per day, on-site spirulina production (two basins, approximately 6 kg per month), a health program with a dedicated nurse, doctor visits, and dental care, and a Cultural and Sports Center that delivers music, dance, and organized sports (football, basketball). The organization also sponsors Malagasy students through medical studies at French universities (Lyon, Paris) and supports university graduate reintegration into the Antsirabe operations.

The legal and operational structure is tripartite: a French fundraising entity (originally 1901 and later association simplifiée), a Madagascar operations entity (Zazakely Madagascar), and a Swiss entity (Zazakely Suisse, established September 2006). Programs are delivered by approximately 16 staff in Madagascar, including teachers, cooks, a nurse, and program coordinators. Revenue is generated through a combination of individual child sponsorship (parrainage at €10/month, transitioned to a general sponsorship model), corporate patronage and mécénat (notably L.O.I Confection, which supplies meat, internet, and purchases spirulina), French partner school fundraising events, spirulina sales, and donations routed through the Swiss and French entities. The model is low-margin by design and is sustained by long-tenured founder involvement and a network of French school and university partnerships (including EXPERTEAM, PURPAN, and NEOMA Business School).

Name

Association Zazakely Madagascar

Legal name

Association Zazakely

Website

https://zazakely.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Association Zazakely Madagascar is a French non-profit founded in 2001 that runs an integrated community center in Antsirabe's Mahazina quarter, serving 300 disadvantaged children with education, daily meals, healthcare, spirulina nutrition, vocational training, and cultural and sports programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Social Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Educational Support Services (611710), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAJAKAD

International & Local Implementing NGOs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

SECONDARYHLAJAKAG

Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

SECONDARYHLAJAKAH

Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

SECONDARYEDADALAB

International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Partnerships, Intergovernmental & NGO Programs

Keywords

• Humanitarian education services
• Child nutrition programs
• Community development initiatives
• Nonprofit healthcare support
• Spirulina malnutrition treatment

Headquarters

HQ city

Antsirabe

HQ country

Madagascar

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Sponsorship (Parrainage): Monthly sponsorship (parrainage) at €10/month per child covers all costs for one student including teacher salaries, school fees, school supplies, food, other staff wages, medical follow-up, and utilities. One-time donations are also accepted via the HelloAsso platform. Donations from individuals in France and Switzerland form a primary revenue stream.
2. Corporate Patronage (Mécénat): The association actively seeks corporate sponsorship from businesses to cover difficult-to-defend operational costs and fund specific projects. In return, partner companies receive visibility and communication around the association's projects and achievements.
3. Spirulina Sales to L.O.I Confection: The association sells 4 kg of spirulina per month to L.O.I Confection (a textile company). Revenue from this sale covers the maintenance and production costs of spiruline, which is also distributed to the most malnourished children at no cost. This creates a self-sustaining health nutrition cycle.
4. School Fees and Vocational Training Partnerships: Vocational training is provided in partnership with local confection companies. While the association funds training, partner companies hire graduates, creating indirect economic value. Some revenue may come indirectly through government or institutional co-financing of specific educational or health projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Association Zazakely is a French non-profit humanitarian organization (loi 1901, recognized as being of public interest) that runs an integrated multi-service community centre in the Mahazina quarter of Antsirabe, Madagascar, serving approximately 300 disadvantaged children and youth. It delivers free schooling from kindergarten through CM2 plus tutoring through Baccalauréat, a daily school cafeteria serving ~250 balanced meals, in-house spirulina production to combat malnutrition, a comprehensive health programme (health booklet, nurse, doctor visits, dental care, Maison de la Santé), vocational training, music and dance lessons, a traditional choir, football and basketball, and sponsorship of Malagasy medical students.

Product overview

Association Zazakely Madagascar is a humanitarian organization (association loi 1901, recognized as being in the public interest) founded in 2001 that operates a multi-service community center in the Mahazina quarter of Antsirabe, Madagascar. Its offering consists of integrated social services rather than a commercial product: a schooling program (maternelle through CM2 plus tutoring through Baccalauréat) for approximately 300 children; a vocational training program connecting youth with local employers; a daily school cafeteria serving ~250 meals; an in-house spirulina production program to combat malnutrition; a comprehensive health program including a health center, nurse, physician visits, and dental care; a cultural and sports center with a multipurpose hall, sports fields, cinema capabilities, music lessons (piano, violin, guitar, percussion), dance, Kabary, and a traditional choir; and a medical studies sponsorship program for Malgache students. The site is built on the Drupal CMS (no public API offered).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scolarisation (Schooling Program) Free schooling from maternelle (preschool) through CM2, plus tutoring support from 6th grade to Baccalauréat, serving approximately 300 disadvantaged children in the Mahazina quarter of Antsirabe.
• Formation professionnelle (Vocational Training) Vocational training partnerships with local confection companies that provide apprenticeships and often lead to employment for disadvantaged youth.
• Cantine scolaire (School Cafeteria) School cafeteria providing approximately 230-250 balanced meals per day to children, with a mini farm and agricultural plots supplementing food supply; meat provided by partner L.O.I Confection.
• Bassin de spiruline (Spirulina Production) In-house spirulina production in two ponds producing approximately 6 kg per month, used to combat malnutrition among undernourished children; surplus (4 kg/month) is sold to L.O.I Confection to fund the program.
• Actions de santé (Health Program) Comprehensive health program including a health booklet for each child, a dedicated part-time and full-time nurse, quarterly physician consultations, volunteer dental care, and sponsorship of medical students.
• Centre culturel et sportif (Cultural and Sports Center) Multi-purpose facility including a sports plateau (basketball, handball, volleyball, futsal, gymnastics), a 180 m² multipurpose hall, cinema/screening capabilities, and space for artistic activities, serving both Zazakely children and the broader Mahazina community.
• Chorale (Traditional Choir 'Mahazina') Traditional polyphonic choir 'Mahazina' of 16 singers aged 18-25 performing a cappella betsileo chants composed by the singers themselves.
• Activités Artistiques (Music and Dance Lessons) Music and dance instruction for approximately 170-200 children and youth, including piano, violin, guitar, percussion, dance, and Kabary (traditional Malagasy oratory).
• Activités Sportives (Sports Program) Organized sports including football (with the 'Zaza foot club') and basketball, with facilities made available to youth in the surrounding Mahazina neighborhood.
• Etudes de médecine (Medical Studies Sponsorship) Sponsorship of Malagasy students pursuing medical, nursing, and midwifery studies; the association funds tuition and living expenses with the expectation that graduates will practice in Madagascar and support future students.
• Parrainage (Child Sponsorship Program) Monthly individual sponsorship (parrainage) at €10/month per child covering teacher salaries, school fees, supplies, food, staff wages, medical follow-up, and utilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300 children now attend school (vs. only 20 out of 300 school-age children before the association's creation)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• L.O.I ConfectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerL.O.I Confection is a textile factory in Antananarivo, Madagascar, specializing in children's clothing subcontracting for major French brands. It has been the association's privileged partner since 2001. It finances multiple actions: provides meat for the canteen (~250 meals), supplies internet connectivity, buys 4 kg of spirulina per month for its workers, provides fabric offcuts for clothing/blankets for families, and since 2023 has been the principal funder of the Cultural and Sports Centre construction.
• Collège Wanda LandowskamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocated in Saint Leu La Forêt, France. Since 2014, the college has organized annual actions benefitting Zazakely. Each year, the Vice-President of Zazakely speaks to second-year students about Madagascar and the association's actions. A group of volunteer students organizes events (cake sales, brocantes, Malagasy crafts sales) in Saint Leu La Forêt to raise funds.
• Lycée Notre Dame de BurymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSince 2012, Lycée Notre Dame de Bury has organized annual concerts and theatre/dance/music performances for Zazakely. For over 10 years, the lycée has sensitized students to Madagascar's situation and organized varied fundraising (chocolate sales, café concerts, Christmas markets) contributing to the association's annual operational costs.
• Université de médecine de Paris (SOLIDUP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership started in 2020 with SOLIDUP, a student medical association at Université de Paris. Students fundraise throughout the academic year, then visit Madagascar for ~3 weeks discovering local health organizations (hospital, Clinique des sœurs Ave Maria, Marie Stopes). They organize mass consultations and hygiene education courses for all associations in Antsirabe grouped under OSCAPE. Their funding helped finance the construction of the Maison de la Santé (Health Centre).
• Université de médecine de LyonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with medical students from Université de Lyon started in 2018. Students visit Madagascar to discover local health organizations (hospital, Clinique des sœurs Ave Maria, Marie Stopes) and conduct similar activities to their Paris counterparts. Students from Lyon and Paris alternate their visits.
• PURPAN École d'Ingénieur en AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began in 2023 with the Toulouse-based agricultural engineering school. Second-year engineering students (bac+4) complete a 3-month internship at Zazakely. The association provides accommodation and meal contributions. Missions focus on agriculture and spirulina cultivation. Students come with pre-defined projects defined jointly between PURPAN and Zazakely, helping improve spirulina production.
• NEOMA Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership started in 2025 with NEOMA Business School (Reims campus). Students complete a validating internship (2 months) at Zazakely carrying out local actions and fundraising research. The Humani student association at NEOMA organizes collections, charitable events, and field missions to support the association.
• MusirandocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMusirando is an initiative by violinist Marc Vieillefon who walked across France playing violin at each stop to raise funds for Zazakely. The project, which began in 2021, has enabled the launch of music and dance classes at Zazakely since 2022. Marc continues to accompany musical projects within the association, including a February 2024 concert with the children.
• Danse Bien-être SolidaireminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSince September 2024, Rehana Colombatto (Zazakely's President) organizes Danse Bien-être (Five Rhythms dance) classes in Saint Leu La Forêt at the association's benefit. This combines wellness with fundraising for the NGO.
• Antenna Technologies / Antenna FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began in 2004 with Antenna Technologies which helped establish spirulina production as a nutritional supplement. Antenna France initiated an 18-person study on spirulina's effects as a dietary supplement. 72 people (adults and children) received treatment: 2-5g/day for 45 days with medical monitoring, showing positive weight gains of 500g to 3kg. Antenna France helped construct the 2 spirulina basins.
• La Guilde (animation and volunteering)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa Guilde has been sending volunteers to Zazakely for years, whose help is described as particularly precious. Volunteers support various operational activities at the centre.
• Vacances BleuesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for solidarity tourism, helping to bring visitors and supporters to the association.
• École des Mines d'Alès / Tsiky ZanakacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began in 2020 with the École des Mines d'Alès (via the Tsiky Zanaka student association). Students helped fundraise for and assisted in the construction of the Maison de la Santé (Health Centre) in 2023. They also accompany the health centre project.
• Université Catholique de Lyon (UCLy) / ESTBBminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered for medical book collection in Lyon alongside the Centre Laennec and the Old Students of CHA, contributing to the medical library established in Antananarivo.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Akamasoa: Madagascar-based humanitarian organization founded by Father Pedro Opeka serving impoverished families in Antananarivo through education, housing, and healthcare. Closest direct comparable to Zazakely: similar multi-sector community development model, similar child-focused beneficiary base, similar faith-inspired leadership, and similar French/Malagasy operational footprint.
• Bel Avenir: French-founded NGO operating in Madagascar focused on children's education, environmental protection, and community development around Tuléar. Direct peer in scope: similar French-Malgache operational structure, child sponsorship model, schooling + extracurriculars focus, and reliance on individual parrainage donors in France.
• Enfants du Mékong: French NGO sponsoring children through school sponsorship (parrainage) across Southeast Asia. Direct peer in business model — same €-denominated monthly child sponsorship structure, same French fundraising entity with overseas operational sites, same focus on education access for disadvantaged children.
• Un Enfant par la Main: French NGO (Plan International France network) running the classic child sponsorship model for education and child welfare in developing countries. Direct peer in fundraising mechanics (parrainage, HelloAsso-style donations, French individual donors) though Zazakely has explicitly moved away from child-to-sponsor matching.

Broad incumbents

• Action contre la Faim: Large international NGO headquartered in France focused on hunger and malnutrition, with active operations in Madagascar. Broad incumbent: overlapping nutrition focus (relevant to Zazakely's spirulina program) but operates at vastly larger scale across many countries with institutional donor funding rather than individual sponsorship.
• Aide et Action: International education-focused NGO headquartered in France with active programs in Madagascar. Broad incumbent in the same education-access category as Zazakely's schooling program, but with institutional funding model and multi-country portfolio.
• UNICEF Madagascar: UN children's agency with the largest child-welfare footprint in Madagascar. Broad incumbent in the same geography and beneficiary category (children, health, nutrition, education) — relevant as a contextual peer but not a comparable organization in size or funding model.

Others

• Antenna Technologies / Antenna France: French non-profit specialized in spirulina production for malnutrition — Zazakely's actual strategic partner since 2004. Comparable as a thematic/ecosystem peer (spirulina-as-nutrition model) and as an enabler that helped Zazakely stand up its basins, but not a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Plan International Madagascar: Country office of large international child-rights NGO operating in Madagascar. Regional/incumbent peer operating in the same geography serving overlapping beneficiary categories (children, education, health) but with institutional funding and a much broader programmatic portfolio.

Emerging players

• Kokopelli Semences: French association promoting seed sovereignty and food self-sufficiency including spirulina initiatives. Thematically related as a French NGO operating small-scale nutritional/agricultural projects, though focused on seed distribution rather than child welfare. Useful as an ecosystem peer for the spirulina-as-nutrition approach.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfr-fr.facebook.com/zazakelymadagascar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association Zazakely Madagascar