Madagascar – Young people win the Creathon, an international digital competition
Looking back at a remarkable encounter with the winners of the digital innovation competition on July 2.
A Major Achievement for Four Talented Young People
Four outstanding students from the Passerelles Numériques Madagascar (PNM) program, hailing from Antananarivo, have triumphed at the CREATHON, a prestigious international competition fostering creativity and technological innovation among young people. Selected to represent Madagascar in France, these winners will now have the opportunity to bring their innovative project to life.
The winners—two young men and two young women—are top of their class. Their project, pnm.i-tool, is a learning and exchange platform that impressed the CREATHON jury. Thanks to this victory, they traveled to Poitiers at the end of June to participate in acceleration workshops. These sessions were designed to prepare their project for potential incubation while providing training on new working and collaboration methods.
Before returning to Madagascar, the students made a stop in Paris on July 2 for an event hosted by the Ambassador of Madagascar. Co-sponsored by the French Embassy in Madagascar, this event provided a unique opportunity to strengthen ties between Madagascar and the international community. It also served as a platform to showcase the talent and potential of Malagasy youth in the field of technological innovation.
“My story is a testament to the power of perseverance, learning, and the positive influence of those who believe in you.”
— Jean-Marc, CREATHON winner and PNM participant
Empowering Madagascar’s Youth in a Challenging Context
Madagascar faces significant economic challenges: it is among the five poorest countries in the world, with 81% of the population living below the extreme poverty line and only 11% of Malagasy people in formal employment. While the primary school enrollment rate stands at 76%, it drops to 27% for secondary education and only 13% for higher education.
Passerelles Numériques Madagascar (PNM) works to improve access to digital and tech education for underprivileged youth, particularly young women, in Madagascar. PNM’s beneficiaries, aged 18 to 24, often come from vulnerable backgrounds based on multiple criteria: poverty, geographical isolation, and limited access to education. After completing the PNM training program, these young people pursue higher education with support until they secure sustainable employment.
Special Guests and Gratitude
The event was honored by the presence of Madame Lova Hasinirina Ranoromaro, Spokesperson of the President of the Republic & Director of International Affairs.
Passerelles Numériques expresses its deepest gratitude to:
- Madagascar’s Minister of Digital Development, Posts and Telecommunications, Tahina Michel RAZAFINDRAMALO, for his high patronage,
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His Excellency the Ambassador of Madagascar for his warm welcome,
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The French Embassy in Madagascar for their financial support, which enabled the students to attend the event,
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The Fondation pour l’Enfance and SOS Villages d’Enfants for their collaboration with Passerelles Numériques in creating the PNM program.
A Special Thanks to Malagasy Digital Leaders
We extend our sincere appreciation to the Malagasy leaders in the digital sector who participated:
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Fenitra Ravelomanantsoa – Founder of the Association Maison du Numérique in Madagascar,
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Matina Razafimahefa – Co-founder of SAYNA,
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Shams Radjabaly – Co-founder of Moneco, named “30 Under 30 Africa 2024”,
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Hary Robertson – Founder of Humans4help Madagascar.
This celebration not only recognized the incredible achievements of these young students but also reinforced the importance of education, innovation, and international collaboration in shaping the future of Madagascar.
