In a globalized context, cultural exchanges have become commonplace. I have always believed that, to some degree, everyone should be a citizen of the world. People’s mobility, especially before Covid, was spectacular. For a decade or two, we have seen donors offering young people from almost every country of the world training programs, seminars, scholarships, or exchange opportunities. Some would qualify the move as “soft power” while others see it as offered opportunities. But the facts stand: the world is opening up to young people, including us, Malagasy. Let us take advantage of it!

There are dozens of programs for young Malagasy, ranging from simple exchanges to academic training courses, or international trainings in personal development. Many programs have turned virtual amid the Covid pandemic, but we also have residential initiatives. I will share a few with you.

For a decade, the United States, first of all, has developed the Young Africans Leaders Initiative (YALI) – a program that offers fellowships in public management and good governance, business and entrepreneurship, and civic leadership in the U.S. (Mandela Washington Fellowship) or in South Africa (Regional Leadership Center). The fellowship runs for 4 or 6 weeks, and online courses are also offered alternately with face-to-face programs. I would estimate that nearly 400 young Malagasy have benefited from the YALI program so far.

Besides, the U.S. has also designed the International Visit Leadership Program (IVLP), the Humphrey Fellowship, the Fulbright Scholarship program, and more. While the IVLP allows young professionals to visit the U.S. for a short period to exchange and expand networks, the other two last one and two years.

Recently, Atlas Corps has selected a few young Malagasy for a remote training in leadership skills development (scholarship), and allowed some of them pursue paid one-year (or longer) internships in the US (fellowship). Since its launch in 2006, Atlas Corps has trained more than 1,000 young leaders and social change-makers from more than 105 countries. This year, Atlas Corps has selected 13 young Malagasy scholars and three fellows.

The U.S. Embassy regularly shares details of these programs. I invite you to follow its Facebook page.

Mirado Rakotoharimalala with other Atlas Corps fellows and scholars, and the U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy Section.

Another opportunity comes from the United Kingdom, with its famous Chevening scholarship. Outstanding young people from all over the world, including Madagascar, can take a one-year Masters's course in a UK university. Around ten Malagasy scholars are selected each year.

The French-African Foundation has launched the Young Leaders Program. The program – which is at its third cohort – offers exchanges and seminars for young people from Africa and France and tackles tomorrow's challenges while strengthening the relationship between the continent and the metropolis.

Last but not least, the German Friedrich-Ebert Foundation designed the Youth Leadership Training Program (YLTP) that has annually brought together around twenty young Malagasy leaders since 2005. The program provides trainings in politics, social democracy, and personal development.

Considering that these opportunities are granted free of charge to its beneficiaries, they must earn their spots. Applicants must follow the standard selection approach: eligibility, submission, and interview. English language proficiency also plays a prominent role as most of the programs are run in English or involve participants from English-speaking countries.

Now, the question is: why are donors interested in young people, and why so much investment?

The first legitimate answer in my sense is the prominent role of young people as a lever for development, especially in Madagascar where they represent more than two-thirds of the population. Young people are the present and the future. There should be no argument about that.

The second answer would be the expected "accountability" of young people. Is it soft power? In a way, it is; but at the same time, we should not forget that the recipients or awardees always come out winners insofar as they open up internationally, expand their networks, and above all, substantially grow personally and/or professionally.

I would add a third answer: the capacity of young people to better assimilate and adapt to potential cultural shocks.

An opportunity remains an opportunity. It is up to us, young people, to assess and strike a balance. We may not have the experience of our elders, but we have the advantage of being well grounded and better qualified to face the challenges of the present and the future. Experience will follow.

Since late 2019, the Malagasy government has decided to invest vigorously in the creation or rehabilitation of sports infrastructure across the island. Soccer in particular is well off with about 30 stadiums concerned. The President of the Republic inaugurated three stadiums in only one month: Ihosy, Mahitsy and Ambohidratrimo. While a segment of the population questions the usefulness of such investments, we will try to understand the impacts of these projects at the society level.

Sport is an integral part of society. In Madagascar, soccer has taken a prominent place since the national team "Barea" qualified for its first Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in 2019 and brilliantly made it to the quarter-finals. The Barea brought together the Malagasy for a competition, and even beyond. The state might have acknowledged how important soccer and sport in general were for the society. However, retaining the performances of 2019 and then qualifying again for major international competitions go through the development of sports disciplines. For soccer in particular, all aspects must be taken into consideration, supported, and improved: technical, administrative, legal, personnel, communication, succession, sports, and of course, infrastructures and facilities.

The rehabilitation or the creation of sports facilities is therefore important. The lack of sports infrastructures was sorely felt. Currently, apart from the Barikadimy Toamasina Stadium and the Kianja Barea in Mahamasina in Antananarivo, Madagascar has, in May 2021, only two stadiums approved by the “Confédération Africaine de Football” (CAF). The CNaPS Vontovorona stadium has also had the opportunity to host official international matches in recent years just like that of Rabemananjara in Mahajanga, but these two stadiums need to be improved before they can host official international meetings again.

If at present, it is assumed that the stadiums recently inaugurated in Madagascar do not yet meet the minimum requirements set by football international bodies, the creation or rehabilitation of these facilities are beneficial to local football. Mahitsy, Ambohidratrimo, Ihosy and the future infrastructures to be put in place are available to young local players who will be able to express their talents on a good pitch. National competitions can also be held on these grounds, it would be then possible to cover the greatest number of cities and to find amazing players in every corner of the island. If during the 2020-2021 edition of the Orange Pro League national football championship, 13 clubs from 9 regions shared 5 pitches in Madagascar, 8 clubs come from the capital Antananarivo. This demonstrates the importance of the availability of new stadiums which would also raise the level of football outside the big cities. Players, coaches, clubs, but also fans will enjoy these facilities.

Finally, business-wise, a micro-ecosystem can also be established around the creation of these stadiums. Note the economic opportunities for return on investment: rental, ticketing, advertisements, etc. All this can create new markets, business opportunities and jobs in the cities where these stadiums are located.

To conclude, the creation or rehabilitation of new stadiums, although they can only be used for local football at this stage, is acclaimed by the football community in Madagascar and is hoped to develop the discipline in the country. Now, it is necessary to support these infrastructure projects with a good and coherent policy: succession, the expansion of competitions, the detection of players likely to join the Barea, and the related business. This would be a big step toward the development of soccer and would help us defend the national colors with pride. Time to unite once again, sing together the national anthem, be surfed in euphoria and forget for a moment the gruelling daily routine that we live in Madagascar!

This article is also available in the 11th release of "The American" magazine. The full PDF version of magazine is available for download here.

Malagasy sport has known illustrious personalities since the independence of the country in 1960. Among them, a woman would mark her discipline and even sport in general: Rosa Rakotozafy, Olympian, double gold medalist of the African athletics championships, and currently a senior manager at the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Madagascar. The “Lady” of Malagasy sport is among the most popular and influential people in the country, and she owes her performances and success to herself. Here is her portrait.

Born in Fianarantsoa in the south-central of Madagascar 43 years ago, Rosa Rakotozafy is one of the most emblematic sportswomen on the island; first, by her high-level career on the track, but also by her efficient reconversion to the professional sports world in which she had managed to maintain herself for eight years and three different regimes due to her commitment and her assumption of responsibility.

The athlete – specialized in 100m hurdles and 200m first – stood out by reaching the finals of the Francophonie Games held in Antananarivo in 1997. At the time, she was just 20 years old and was later awarded a scholarship, sending her immediately to the International Center of Athletics of Dakar for six years of intense training and improvement (1997 - 2003).

The results were felt quickly when, in 1998, Rosa won a Gold medal during the Indian Ocean Islands Games held in Reunion. From then on, she consecutively participated in several international sport events with different degrees of success.

In 1999, the Fianarantsoa woman engraved her name in the annals of Malagasy athletics by winning the national record of the 100 metres hurdles in 12 seconds 84 during a competition in Niort, France, and the national record of the 200 metres in 23 seconds 09 in Pretoria, South Africa.

To date, her achievement as a double record holder has not yet been surpassed. Qualified for the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, then as the flag bearer of the Malagasy delegation four years later at the Athens Olympic Games, Rosa had undoubtedly won her two best medals at the 2002 African Championships and 2004. At both events, she made it to the top step of the podium. Her affiliation with the Darra Atletica Vigevano Athletics Club in Milan (2003-2005) and her training in high-level sports in Heidelberg in Germany between 2003 and 2004 had undoubtedly been beneficial to her.

To her rich athletic career was added another gold medal at the 2011 Islands Games in Seychelles, and a bronze medal at the African Games in Maputo, Mozambique the same year, after winning it in 2006. The following year, she finished fifth in the final of the African Championships in Benin. In the meantime, she was gradually preparing her reconversion for the professional scene.

She was first a member of the Malagasy Olympic Committee as a representative of the Olympians from 2009 to 2014. She took the leadership of the Association of Olympians of Madagascar in 2012 and is still its president today. Rosa joined the Cabinet of the Ministry of Youth and Sports from 2012 to 2014. In 2014, she was appointed Director of Federal Sport by former Minister of Sports Anicet Andriamosarisoa.

Having become an expert and national correspondent of the Conference of Francophone Youth and Sports Ministers (COFNEJES) since 2014, she was also part of the 2016 class of the Center for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies of Madagascar (CEDS) and presided her cohort.

After the change of regime and the advent of Tinoka Roberto at the head of the Ministry in 2019, Rosa became General Director of Sports. Her office is based at the Ministry headquarters at the Place Goulette in Antananarivo. Rosa is the first-ever Malagasy woman appointed to endorse such responsibilities.

Mother of 3 children, Rosa Rakotozafy is fully involved in the world of sport and wants to bring her high-level experience. Before joining the Ministry of Youth and Sports in 2012, she had lent a hand to other sports federations including judo, petanque and basketball when they organized continental competitions in the early 2010s.

As a generous athlete, Rosa Rakotozafy was omnipresent during the epic of the Barea during the 2019 AfCoN in Egypt. She is the image of sport; she is the one who wins and improves. In September 2020,

Rosa was elected President of UNESCO’s Inter-Governmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS), with 5 vice-president countries including Russia, Tunisia, Cuba, Bulgaria, Japan. She is also the first woman to hold this position since the creation of the committee in 1978.

The champion's journey demonstrates a striking reality: there are no miracles in sport and in life in general. Her watchwords were: training, capacity building and retraining. It is all about hard work. Nothing comes by chance. She is ambitious, she wants to go far. At any rate, she does not intend to stop where she is currently.

The world of soccer fascinates. Beyond the game that is played on a pitch are placed people, board members who direct the destiny of this global sport.

The Barea fairy tale in 2019 which illuminated the 25 million Malagasy people, and which continued to put the entire population on their feet, without wanting to take away the merit of the players and coaches, was also set up behind the scenes. It is undeniably the result of good governance, a vision and plans put in place a decade or more before.

Ahmad – President of the Malagasy Federation of Football (FMF) from 2003 to 2017, then member of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) from 2013 to 2017, and finally President of this continental body from 2017 to 2021 and Vice-President of FIFA during this same period – always wanted to put Madagascar and its football at the highest level possible. In his mission, members of the FMF Executive Committee who are as competent as they are influential in their respective fields accompanied him.

During the last 8 year, while Ahmad was sitting in the Board of CAF, Madagascar has experienced historic results: African beach soccer champion in 2015, first participation in a FIFA competition (Beach soccer World Cup) in Portugal in 2015, first participation in an AFCON in 2019, then ascension to the quarterfinals of the competition. Referees are booming and women's soccer is valued, to name just a few points. The facts speak for themselves. These performances were anything but a coincidence.

Dr. Raoul Arizaka Rabekoto, former Vice-President of the FMF and currently at the head of the latter, was also part of the Soccer Board in Madagascar, which has propelled local football to a high level, in particular through the generous but crucial involvement of the CNaPS, which he led at the time. Nathalie Rabe, a former Minister and the first female Director at CAF, or the former members of the Madagascar government Cyrille Reboza and Neypatraiky Rakotomamonjy, were also part of this visionary and highly experienced team. There was a strong team behind Ahmad since almost ten years and who have contributed their expertise on how to apply a coherent governance strategy that is appropriate to the reality of the country. Rewarded, we have said it, by tangible results and performances.

However, today, all of this seems to be behind us. No Malagasy national will be sit on the Board of CAF for the first time in eight years. Besides, among the superb team behind Ahmad especially during his last two terms at the head of the FMF, only two remain active in the world of football: Dr Raoul Rabekoto, and Aurélien Andriamalazaony, CAF Security Officer and Advisor of the local national soccer league called “Orange Pro League”.

The end of an era is approaching if it is not already recorded. But, who will succeed with all the pressure that this generates?

Currently, young people in Madagascar are gradually starting to get involved in management or even sports governance. Sports entities are beginning to "rejuvenate", including the federation, the clubs, and the Orange Pro League whose executive team is exceptionally young. In clubs in particular, administration and even coaching are entrusted to young people. Even the national coach also hired young assistants. Youth contribution tends to be valued earlier than it used to be in Madagascar.

Auspicious. Because governance and management require a diversity of skills and profiles, innovative ideas allied to the respective experiences of the people, but above all the passion and a certain consistency, which should constantly animate and energize the sector.

We will of course understand that the idea is not to brutally hit the elders. The goal is to perfect and optimize the transition time. We hear a very promising new wave that had the opportunity and the chance to be impregnated into the world of soccer very early on in order to ensure some room for progress. This new promotion will emerge, and we hope that they will be as successful as the Ahmad, Raoul Arizaka Rabekoto, Nathalie Rabe, Patricia Rajeriarison, Doda Andriamiasasoa, Theodore Rakotoarimino, and many more.

The present belongs to these young people. The future will judge them.