Madagascar Country Team

FRANKA RASOLOMANANTSOA, COUNTRY DIRECTOR for anjiro initiative in madagascar

Franka Elodie served as the Head of Programs for the Anjiro Initiative in Madagascar from August 2023, to July 2025. During her tenure, she worked closely with local school administrators, educators, and community partners to strengthen grassroots education and development programs across the region.

In October 2023, Franka represented the Anjiro Initiative at Southern Voice’s flagship research conference, Driving the Next Decade of Sustainable Development, held in Nairobi, Kenya. Also she participated in the United Nations Civil Society Conference, where she made a powerful impact during the FEMNET workshop, Reimagining Development: Reclaiming the Dignity of African Women and Girls. Her bold statement—“Africa needs more female presidents!”—sparked thunderous applause and captured the spirit of the event.

Franka was born in Fénérive Est (Tamatave area) and lived there for 10 years. She has also lived up north (Sambava) and in Antananarivo, where her parents were high school teachers.

Franka holds a bachelor’s degree in French from the University of Arts in Antananarivo in the “Formation General” section. At school, Franka always enjoyed learning foreign languages such as French and English. Franka brings a wealth of experience in teaching and office administration.

In 2003, Franka started her first job as a Language and Cross-Culture Facilitator at the Peace Corps Madagascar, where she taught the official Malagasy language and the Eastern and Northern dialects to Peace Corps volunteers in Madagascar for 10 years.

After that, Franka moved to Tamatave and worked as the school administrative assistant at the Ambatovy Project at the Ambatovy International School.

In 2015, Franka was hired by the environmental NGO Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group in Tamatave. This international consortium of zoos and other conservation agencies pools resources to help conserve animal species in Madagascar, and Franka served first as their executive assistant. During this time, Franka had the opportunity to visit Chicago for two months. Her next administrative roles were with the GIZ Madagaskar Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, which works on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

TENDRY NANTENAINA RANDRIANARIMANANA, Director of Madagascar Operations

Tendry Nantenaina Randrianarimanana completed his primary and secondary schooling in Anjiro. Then he moved to Antananarivo to work on his undergraduate studies at the University of Antananarivo, where he studied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and received his bachelor’s degree in 2019. In 2017, Tendry was awarded a scholarship from Well's Mountain Initiative, a Vermont-based nonprofit, to study computer science as a WMI Scholar at IFT Antananarivo. In April 2023, he completed his seven-month internship at the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar, where he studied “the antibiotic susceptibility profile of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from patients at Pasteur Institute of Madagascar in 2021 and 2022.” Currently, he is preparing his research dissertation for his master’s degree in Biochemistry, Biodiversity, and Health at the University of Antananarivo.

Tendry is proud to be a part of Anjiro Initiative because the organization helps disadvantaged families provide quality schooling for their children. He hopes that his contributions will improve the daily lives of the people of Anjiro and develop his beloved community because there is nothing other than education that makes people better, frees them from the difficulties of life, and enables them to have a bright future.

As the Program Administrator from 2019 to 2021, Tendry was key to the growth and success of all Anjiro Initiative programs during the nonprofit's early days. In 2021, through Tendry's leadership, Anjiro Initiative constructed a new classroom at the Ecole Primaire Publique Sabotsy Anjiro and provided scholarships to 250 primary and secondary school students, with 60% of those scholarships going to girl students. Tendry was also key in the creation and development of Anjiro Initiative's pioneering University Program for students from rural communities.

As a Program Administrator II, Tendry will continue to represent Anjiro Initiative to local stakeholders while continuing to lead the development of all programs in Madagascar and overseeing the work of the newly created University Program Manager position. He will liaise closely with four designated working board members to run and support the Anjiro Scholarship program, University Program, and Communications during the annual fundraising campaign.

A fun fact about Tendry is he can perform these myriad duties by communicating in three languages: Malagasy, English, and French!

Heritoavina RAZANOELINA, Deputy Director of Programs

Heritoavina Razanoelina’s educational journey began in the rural town of Anjiro, where he completed his primary education. The pursuit of knowledge led him to the city of Antananarivo, Madagascar's capital, where he attended Nanisana High School for his secondary and high school education. In 2017, Heritoavina embarked on a new academic adventure at the University of Antananarivo, enrolling as a freshman in the Economics program. His dedication and hard work concluded in 2022 when he proudly received his bachelor's degree in Economics, specializing in General Economics.

Currently, he is in the final stages of completing his Master's degree in Project Management and Rural Development. His passion for academia seamlessly transitioned into a professional role in 2021 when he joined Anjiro Initiative (AI) as a University Program Manager. In this new role, Heritoavina has had the privilege of guiding numerous students from rural areas, assisting them with the enrollment process, easing their transition to urban life, and supporting their academic endeavors at the university.

From October 2023 to April 2024, Heritoavina got an opportunity to intern with Fond d’Intervention pour le Développement, where he gained invaluable insights into administration and finance. This experience has been instrumental in shaping his understanding of the intricacies of development work.

Beyond his academic and professional pursuits, Heritoavina is an active member of YMCA Madagascar. In 2022, he demonstrated his leadership skills as a board member of the English Club, taking on the roles of Community Manager and Facilitator. These positions allowed him to foster a nurturing environment for language learning and cultural exchange.

Heritoavina’s passion for technology, particularly photography, has been a constant companion. Since 2019, he has served as the photographer for AI, capturing moments and memories that tell the story of the students and the community. His journey with photography is an ongoing exploration of talent and creativity, as he continues to work and evolve as AI's photographer.

Frederic Tokiniaina, Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives

Frederic Tokiniaina (Toky) is a community-rooted changemaker whose journey from rural Madagascar to the global stage reflects the power of perseverance and purpose. Raised in Anjiro by his grandparents, Toky walked four hours each day to attend school at Lycée Sabotsy-Anjiro—often without food or electricity—and graduated top of his class. His determination earned him an award from the U.S. Embassy to help defray the costs of taking standardized tests, paving the way for his selection as the first Francophone and sub-Saharan African student to receive the prestigious MasterCard Foundation Scholarship. Toky was also the only Malagasy student in his cohort.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and sustainability from Arizona State University, where his studies focused on the three pillars of sustainability—environmental, social, and economic—and their connection to education and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. While in the U.S., Toky volunteered with a local organization in Mesa, Arizona, helping sort and distribute clothing donations to homeless communities at public events.

Toky’s early leadership was shaped by grassroots experiences, including active participation in English Club activities led by Peace Corps Volunteers and shadowing a volunteer to learn about agribusiness and market access through the Anjiro Ginger Cooperative. These formative experiences deepened his commitment to community empowerment and cross-cultural collaboration.

Now, as Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives at Anjiro Initiative, Toky leads special projects that span technology, fundraising, and cross-departmental coordination. He played a key role in securing a grant from the Portland Peace Corps Association, a multi-year initiative supporting 40 students annually at a rural middle school in Mahabo-Mananivo, designed to strengthen educational outcomes and environmental awareness. He works closely with U.S.-based board members and local teams to ensure that every initiative reflects the needs and aspirations of the communities they serve.

Toky’s vision is to break barriers—digital, educational, and economic—starting with the launch of the Tech Lab in Anjiro. He believes that empowering rural youth with access to technology and education is the key to long-term prosperity and poverty alleviation. His story is not just one of personal triumph, but a beacon of hope for students who may feel their dreams are out of reach.

Louisette Radasimalala, Program Assistant

Louisette hails from Marovoay, Northwest Madagascar. She is passionate about empowering Malagasy students to reach their full potential and enjoys taking walks and reading in her free time. She strengthened her English language skills by earning an advanced B2 certification from Antananarivo's prestigious English Teaching Program; gained communications and customer service skills during her time at Webhelp Madagascar; and experienced engaging with Peace Corps Madagascar volunteers,

As Program Assistant, Louisette will assist in implementing programs such as the Anjiro Scholarship Program, University Program, Partnership Programs, and Anjiro Initiative Computer Lab. She will also convey messages and collect information from partners on behalf of Madagascar Country Team leadership, as well as support monitoring and evaluation, finance, and compliance efforts.

HERINIRINA Fanomezantsoa Hasiniaina, Communication and Administrative Assistant.

Originally from Anjiro,Hasina graduated from Sabotsy Anjiro High School in 2021, marking the end of her secondary education in her hometown. Driven by her passion for rural development and applied sciences, she joined the Polytechnic School of Vontovorona in 2022, where she is currently pursuing a course in Rural Engineering. She is in her third year, preparing for her bachelor's degree.

In 2023, Hasina enrolled in Anjiro Initiative as a university student beneficiary. This program provides her with valuable support, in particular by helping to finance her studies. In 2025, she is selected as an Intern at Anjiro Initiative, a great recognition of her seriousness and potential.

This internship represents a unique opportunity for her to confront the field, to put into practice what she has learned and to actively participate in projects useful to her community. Hasina embodies motivated, persevering and forward-looking youth, with the desire to become an agent of change in rural Malagasy areas.