As students in VID's master's program MACOMM, Master's in Community Development and Social Innovation, Vanessa and Célinà focus on the development of civil society and how they can create social change. This is a good fit for Vanessa, who works with young people who have dropped out of school.
- My work has shaped me and given me insight into various local challenges in the Antsirabe region. I want to work for a society without major social differences. For example, studying social development and social innovation at VID was a great opportunity for me," says Vanessa.
Vanessa moved from Tulear to Antsirbe to complete her education but is currently taking a semester in Stavanger.
Célinà was born and raised in Antsirabe. In addition to being a student at ESSVA, Célinà works in an organization called Unbound. They help families to better their lives through counselling and various programs such as job training and microcredit. They want to change society by strengthening the lives of families who need help.
- After working 19 years as a social worker, I decided to go back to university because life, the world, and development work are constantly changing. I want to be more effective in my work in the local community. Madagascar needs skilled and knowledgeable social workers, Célinà explains.
Every day is international
As exchange students at VID, they do not only get studies and Norwegian cultural experiences. They live in a student collective on campus with 11 other students and volunteers. The others come from Malawi, South Africa, Brazil, Hong Kong and Germany. Each student has their own room, but sharing a kitchen and establishing cleaning routines can at times create challenges.
- For me, it's a new experience to live with people from different countries, with different cultures, mindsets and temperaments, says Célinà.
- There is a lot to be organized when the kitchen and bathroom are to be kept clean and tidy and everyone has to do their tasks. This is my first experience with community development in Norway, Célinà continues with a smile.
The class at VID is even more international than the student collective, and they have classmates from Kenya, Chad, the Philippines, Malawi, South Africa, Nepal, Ghana, Norway, Iran, Germany and Spain. It is clear that this does something to their student environment.
New expectations
- Studies in community development, management, organizations, social innovation and globalization have helped me to get to know myself and to question my way of acting as a social worker, says Célinà.
- For me, this course is very well adapted to development work in Madagascar, because we have a lot of work to do in terms of community development.
Vanessa also explains that it is not only the class at VID that differs from ESSVA, but also the way they study.
- In Norway, we as students are expected to spend a lot of time on the required reading, and participate in group work and research, while in Madagascar we have more classes. But in Norway, we also have good aids such as stable internet and a well-equipped library. This makes learning easier, but it still takes a lot of work and concentration.
Both Vanessa and Célinà wish and hope that more students from Madagascar can have the opportunity to study in Norway.