Vakoka Vakiteny

Vakoka Vakiteny is a small non-profit publishing organisation based in Toliara in Madagascar's Atsimo Andrefana Region. It develops, edits, publishes, and distributes literature and educational materials for Malagasy children and young people, with a particular emphasis on books created by young Malagasy writers and illustrators. Its publishing programme covers early-reader books, fairy tales, young-adult fiction, games and sports manuals, and non-fiction related to geography, nature, and environmental protection. The organisation's roots lie in The Joy of Reading, a project initiated by the National Centre for Reading Education and Research at the University of Stavanger in Norway. Between 2006 and 2008, that project supported the creation of three contemporary children's books by young Malagasy artists. The books were distributed without charge to children and schools. After the project ended, Vakoka Vakiteny was established in 2008 as an independent organisation intended to continue and broaden the work through other funding sources and local partnerships. Vakoka Vakiteny's mission extends beyond conventional book publishing. Its programmes promote reading enjoyment, attachment to and knowledge of the Malagasy mother tongue, and the development of literature and illustration in a modern Malagasy setting. The organisation's editorial themes include human rights, the rights of women and girls, environmental protection, and the relationship between children, nature, and their communities. Its logo features Dangaligny, a clever small lizard who appears as the main character in the first children's book produced by the organisation. The publisher works with Malagasy public authorities on the production and distribution of school books and children's and youth literature. It also contributes to teacher-training programmes focused on using mother-tongue literature in education. Workshops for teachers and students have addressed the use of literature in schools as well as creative writing and drawing, linking publishing activity with classroom practice and local artistic development. A supporting organisation, the Madagascar School and Children's Books Association, was established in Germany in 2009 to provide financial support for Vakoka Vakiteny's work. The association is based in Schopfheim, Baden, and had more than 30 members according to the referenced material. Vakoka Vakiteny is owned and run by Andriamparany Rakotondrainy, a Malagasy teacher and development professional. Since 2021, the organisation has also supported the construction of small school libraries intended to provide safe, welcoming spaces where children—especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds—can read and complete schoolwork. The libraries use bright colours and illustrations from Vakoka Vakiteny's books to encourage creativity. Two libraries had been completed in Antsirabe, Mahazoarivo II, and Ambohimanambola, Betafo. A third library in Vatomandry on Madagascar's east coast was planned for 2026. Reference material reports that Vakoka Vakiteny had published 22 book titles and distributed more than 41,000 copies since 2007. These figures include activity associated with the organisation's predecessor project and are therefore best understood as cumulative programme results rather than as a separately audited commercial publishing statistic. The organisation remains focused on strengthening Malagasy-language publishing, supporting local authors and illustrators, and improving children's access to books, school resources, and reading spaces.

Vakoka Vakiteny's history is connected to The Joy of Reading, a literacy and publishing project initiated by the National Centre for Reading Education and Research at the University of Stavanger in Norway. The project operated from 2006 to 2008 and supported young Malagasy writers and illustrators in producing three modern children's books. These works were distributed free of charge to children and schools, establishing an approach that combined Malagasy-language publishing with practical access to reading materials. After the project concluded, Vakoka Vakiteny was founded in 2008 as an independent non-profit publishing organisation. It retained the earlier project's emphasis on contemporary children's literature but sought to continue the work through different funding arrangements and a broader programme. Its purpose was to create and distribute quality books and school materials in Malagasy, support emerging Malagasy authors and illustrators, and expand the role of literature in children's education. The organisation's editorial and educational objectives include encouraging children to read for pleasure, strengthening the use of Malagasy in educational and public contexts, and presenting themes such as human rights, women's and girls' rights, and environmental protection. It also aims to provide a forum for modern Malagasy literature and illustration. Dangaligny, a clever lizard and the principal character of the first children's book produced by Vakoka Vakiteny, became the organisation's logo. In 2009, the Madagascar School and Children's Books Association was founded in Germany to provide financial support for Vakoka Vakiteny's activities. The association is based in Schopfheim, Baden. Vakoka Vakiteny also developed cooperation with Malagasy government bodies on school-book and children's-literature production and distribution, as well as on teacher-training programmes concerning the use of mother-tongue literature in teaching. The publishing programme has included books for beginning readers, young-adult novels, fairy tales, games and sports manuals, and non-fiction works addressing geography, nature, and environmental protection. Workshops for teachers and students have complemented the books, covering ways to use literature at school and methods of creative writing and drawing. Reference material reports cumulative publication of 22 titles and distribution of more than 41,000 copies since 2007, a figure that includes activity linked to the pre-2008 project period. From 2021 onward, Vakoka Vakiteny expanded its practical reading-access work by supporting small school libraries. These facilities are intended as safe spaces where children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, can read and do schoolwork. Their brightly painted interiors incorporate illustrations from Vakoka Vakiteny's books and are designed to stimulate children's creativity. Two libraries were completed in Antsirabe, Mahazoarivo II, and Ambohimanambola, Betafo. A third library in Vatomandry was planned for 2026. The organisation is located in Toliara and is owned and run by Andriamparany Rakotondrainy, described in the reference material as a Malagasy teacher and development professional. Its continuing role is that of a small, locally focused, non-profit publisher and literacy organisation serving Malagasy children, schools, teachers, writers, and illustrators.

• 2026

  Third library planned for Vatomandry

  [1]Vakoka Vakitenyen.wikipedia.org

  A third school library is planned in Vatomandry on Madagascar's east coast. The reference material does not confirm completion.

• 2021

  School-library programme begins

  [1]Vakoka Vakitenyen.wikipedia.org

  Vakoka Vakiteny begins supporting the construction of small school libraries designed as safe, creative reading and study spaces for children, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

• 2009

  Supporting association is established

  [1]Vakoka Vakitenyen.wikipedia.org

  The Madagascar School and Children's Books Association is founded in Germany to provide financial support for Vakoka Vakiteny's activities.

• 2008

  Vakoka Vakiteny is founded

  [1]Vakoka Vakitenyen.wikipedia.org

  Following The Joy of Reading project, Vakoka Vakiteny is established as an independent non-profit publisher to continue producing Malagasy-language children's literature and school materials.

• 2006

  The Joy of Reading project begins

  [1]Vakoka Vakitenyen.wikipedia.org

  The National Centre for Reading Education and Research at the University of Stavanger in Norway begins a project that supports the creation of contemporary Malagasy children's books by young local writers and illustrators.

A mission-led Malagasy-language publisher combining children's literature, education, local creative development, human-rights themes, and access-to-reading programmes.

• Children's literature

  Early-reader books

  Books designed for children beginning to read, produced in Malagasy and intended to support reading fluency, enjoyment, and familiarity with the mother tongue. The available reference material does not identify individual titles.

• Youth literature

  Young-adult novels

  Longer-form fiction for older children and young people, forming part of the organisation's effort to broaden modern Malagasy literature for youth. Specific titles and publication dates are not identified in the available material.

• Children's literature

  Fairy tales

  Children's storybooks based on fairy-tale and imaginative storytelling, included among Vakoka Vakiteny's published formats. The books support reading engagement while contributing to a modern Malagasy-language literary environment.

• Educational publishing

  Educational and reference books

  School and non-fiction materials covering subjects such as geography, nature, and environmental protection. These resources complement the organisation's cooperation with schools and public authorities and support the use of Malagasy in teaching.

• Educational publishing

  Games and sports manuals

  Manuals and activity-oriented materials for teachers and students, including games and sports content. They extend the publisher's work beyond narrative books into practical school resources.

• 2021School library initiative

  Madagascar

  Vakoka Vakiteny began supporting small school libraries as safe spaces for reading and schoolwork, with a particular focus on children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The facilities are decorated with illustrations from its books to make reading environments more welcoming and creatively stimulating.

  Outcome. Two libraries were reported as completed in Antsirabe, Mahazoarivo II, and Ambohimanambola, Betafo. A third site in Vatomandry was planned for 2026.

  Source
• Teacher and student literature workshops

  Madagascar

  The organisation conducts workshops for teachers and students on using literature in schools and on creative writing and drawing, connecting its publishing programme with classroom practice and local artistic participation.

  Source

1. 1Vakoka Vakitenyen.wikipedia.org