Let us introduce ourselves
Mozika Manova Fiainana is a music school for deprived communities of young people in Antsirabe, Madagascar, founded January 2021 by the Norwegian violinist Eline Rodvelt Hansen and the Malagasy musician Dina Rasalina.
The school is a vibrant holistic community that not only provides music and art lessons, but also supports children from the most underprivileged backgrounds in Antsirabe with food, health care and learning supplies, clothing and shelter.
A Holistic Approach To Education And Support
Music lessons are so much more than just learning how to play an instrument. To our students the music school has become a place of safety, worthiness, and a notion of being cared for by the teachers and other students. The transforming power of education and the strong communal sense have brought so many young children from the streets where they were involved in begging and violence – into classrooms with a safe and stimulating environment that nurtures their sense of purpose, self-worth and ability to change their lives for the better through learning.
Empowering Through Education
Many of our students have never had the opportunity to go to school previously. Therefore, the teachers of MMF have organized some additional support for children who struggle with their homework – the initiative that has proven to have a great impact on the development, learning capacity and safety of the children. As a result of the after-school academic support, children who previously could not read or write are now proving successful academic and social development. With a special emphasis on female education and gender equality we strive to empower the girls through music and general education to have an increased control over their lives though making better informed decisions.
Sustainable Growth and Community Impact
Providing a safe, caring and supportive environment we see how the girls and young women further inspire their parents to live healthier, more stable lives. As such, we witness an intergenerational transformation that education has a power to set in motion– and that inspires us to continue to work with dedication, passion and commitment. Since 2021 Mozika Manova Fiainana registered as an NGO and has an independent board of directors, supporting over 60 children. As we are expanding our teaching capacities, we are happy to be working with the local music teachers and creating new local jobs.
MFF is supported by
“The Friends Association of the Music School in Madagascar”
St. Johannes menighet, Stavanger
Foreningen Musikk gir liv, Kristiansand
Buffet Crampon, Paris
Support and Future Ambitions
Our teachers are contributing to delivering lessons on traditional Malagasy instruments, percussion, dance and singing, classical guitar, double bass, visual arts, music theory and chamber music in addition to violin, viola, cello, piano, with further ambitions of including flute and clarinet during 2022. .
Conclusion: A Model for Change
Witnessing the incredible changes that our initiative provokes in the local communities, we hope to further inspire our students to become self-reliant, responsible and skilful individuals that will contribute to a wider positive development of the region.
Our Staff
Eline Rodtveit Hansen
Violin Teacher
MMF Co-Founder, Madagascar
MMF Board Leader, Norway
e-mail@mmf.noEline Rodtvelt Hansen
Eline is a violinist and violin teacher, educated at the Grieg Academy in Bergen. Originally from Sandnes in Rogaland, she has traveled extensively around the world, playing with musicians on several continents and in various genres.
Additionally, she is a dedicated violin teacher. With two violins, she went to Madagascar with a desire to start a music school to help children out of poverty.
In Antsirabe, she met her husband, Dina, who was also a musician and shared a similar dream. Together, they founded MMF in 2021 and now lead the work together.
In addition, Eline works as a violin teacher at the music school, and she follows up ensembles and students on several instruments. Eline is also the leader of the Norwegian board of MMF.
Dina Rasalina Andriamanalina
Dina co-founded MMF with his wife, Eline Rodvelt Hansen, in 2021. Originally from Antsirabe, Madagascar, Dina has rhythm and music in his blood, having played many instruments since childhood
However, it was eventually the piano that became his dominant instrument. In London, he studied music technology and eventually worked in a music studio.
With enthusiasm for children and development work, he returned to Madagascar, where he has been, among other roles, a project manager for international aid projects.
He now leads the work of MMF alongside Eline, in addition to teaching piano and traditional Malagasy music and dance in the project.
Karoline Hartvigsen
B.A. Nursing (2017)
MMF Board Deputy Leader
Project Coordinator, Norway
e-mail@mmf.noKaroline Hartvigsen
Karoline completed her nursing education in 2017 and now works full-time at a cancer ward at Radiumhospitalet in Oslo
Before her bachelor's studies, she completed a one-year study in intercultural understanding at NLA University College Bergen.
In connection with this, she traveled to Bolivia to conduct fieldwork at an orphanage focusing on the children's quality of life.
Karoline has always had a great interest and commitment to humanitarian work and has volunteered as a nurse at a public hospital in Madagascar alongside Thea.
She is now the deputy leader of the Norwegian board of MMF and helps coordinate the work done from Norway.
Thea Harbo
Thea completed her bachelor's degree in nursing in 2017 at Diakonova University College in Oslo. She lived there for 9 years before moving back to her hometown, Stavanger.
She has work experience from home nursing care, several years in a pediatric ward at Rikshospitalet, and currently works full-time in a specially adapted department in a kindergarten.
She has extensive experience working with children and enjoys it.
Thea is a board member of MMF and is responsible for the finances of the project. She volunteers for the project and is responsible for the work carried out in Norway.