In Madagascar, Fifaliana gains self-confidence thanks to her prosthetic leg

Fifaliana, 25, lives with her family near Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. She spends her days with her mother, Fanja, her sister, her sister-in-law and their children. She has an active role in running the family poultry farm and devotes her spare time to one of her passions: soccer. The young woman hopes to find a job in the next few months to become more independent.

A childhood marked by exclusion

From her very first months, Fifaliana was faced with a major challenge. Three months after her birth, her mother noticed that her right leg was swelling abnormally. The doctors were initially convinced that it was a venous problem - the veins in her leg weren't working properly and felt as if they were knotted. They eventually detected the beginnings of cancer. The only way to save her was to amputate her leg. Even before she was a year old, Fifaliana underwent this life-changing operation.

For many years, Fifaliana depended on two crutches. She didn't have her first prosthetic leg until the age of seven. Before being fitted with this prosthesis, her daily life had been very complicated. She had limited mobility and autonomy and little interaction with other children in her community.

The young woman talked to us about the problems she had at school. Her classmates used to stare at her and make fun of her. They refused to play with her because she couldn't run like them. Because of this bullying, she would often leave school in tears and go home to her mother to be comforted. Fanja, her mother, always had the right words to make her feel better. Fifaliana would then go out and play to clear her head. Sports, and soccer in particular, offered her an escape.

A prosthesis to gain confidence

As soon as she received her first prosthetic leg, Fifaliana became more self-confident. Her mother remembers a little girl who was “radiant and open to others, less shy and more sure of herself." Over time, this prosthesis became damaged and in 2024 she was fitted with a another one thanks to HI's Liimba project. She was then followed up with for 3 to 4 months to ensure her new prosthesis fit her perfectly.

“My old prosthesis was damaged, and the teams made sure the new one was ready very quickly”.

Today, she feels perfectly at ease with this prosthesis, which enables her to live “like everyone else” and lead a more independent life. She can walk, run and continue to play soccer freely.

Encouraging solidarity

Her message to other people with disabilities is clear: stay strong, stand tall in the face of adversity and encourage one another. In her view, solidarity and support are essential to move forward.

Despite the progress she had made, there are still difficulties. Fifaliana would like to work, but the fear of being mocked again, or discriminated against by recruiters prevents her from sending in applications.

“I'm sometimes sad when I think about my disability, but I accept it. On the other hand, what frustrates me is not having a job,” she tells us.

When she was younger, she dreamed of becoming a doctor to help others, but a lack of resources prevented her from pursuing her studies. Today, she remains hopeful of finding another path that will allow her to fulfil her potential.

Social and professional exclusion remains a major challenge for people with disabilities. It is essential to promote inclusion and make employers aware of their competencies, the importance of fair recruitment and the need to adapt workplaces to offer everyone a real opportunity for professional fulfilment.

Fanja and Fifaliana still enjoy a close relationship. Her mother is proud of the young woman Fifaliana has become and hopes she will soon find an inclusive job that will enable her to become even more confident and independent.