Our experience as Black Peace Corps Volunteers in Madagascar, a country in East Africa

Hello, lovely people, and welcome to my youtube channel, Fervently Anchored. I’m Sydney! In this video, I recruited some of my Black Peace Corps Volunteer friends to speak on our experience as Black Americans and as Black PCVs in Madagascar. In this video, we cover 5 topics: How we were perceived, Highlights, Challenges, Experiences as Black PCVs within the Peace Corps community, and what being Black in Africa meant to us. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASEEEE watch to the end! The video is a little longer because I believe everything in this video was worth sharing!
Please know that this was not our entire Peace Corps experience, but we tried to speak on the topics, stories, and ideas that specifically focused on how being Black impacted our experience. There are many more highlights, bonding moments, and challenges that are not featured in this video. Also please remember that these experiences are unique to us and us alone. Another Black American in Madagascar could have had a completelyyyy different experience, as could a Black American in another country in Africa. We are just sharing what we know :)
If you liked this video, please COMMENT, LIKE, AND SUBSCRIBE!!! Oh, and SHARE!!!! Also follow me on IG: @ferventlyanchored . Also, follow Jennifer from the video @aroundtheblockwithjenni . Thanks, y’all!

[@jaym8300]

Thank you for sharing this. I REALLY liked hearing Bilal's experience. Because one of my maternal lines come from Madagascar. Brought to America because of the slave trade. Never knew the tribe most affected. It gives me more to research. Thank you so much for the history.

[@tyagasu-bowman1669]

Been contemplating the Peace Corps for about 2yrs. As a Animal Science major I’m interested in the Agriculture sector. Looking at Ghana, Senegal, Eswatini, don’t matter as long as it’s on the Motherland ! lol

[@rittahrabeson3059]

Thank you so much for sharing! I loved it !! I am Malagasy and I ve been living in the US for almost two years now!! I get the same remarks and people just assume I am African American until I speak and explain it to them!!😂🤷🏽‍♀️

[@tantrika.exotica]

❤❤❤

[@Creategifts]

That was phenomenal - informative, thought provoking, inspiring, deep and lighthearted! Thank you all for living, learning and sharing these great adventures. Peace Corps needs to pick this up as a standard training video for not just Black people, but for all volunteers!

[@ferventlyanchored4731]

Wow!! Thank you so much for taking the time to watch the video and for leaving such a powerful comment!! 💛 I created this video because I felt like there was a lack of authentic resources for the Peace Corps, specially in the area of being Black in the service. If they want to pick it up, fine by me! But if not, hopefully the next interested person can find this resource here!!

[@keneg2406]

I could listen to this woman speak all day…She us mesmerizingly beautiful. Truthfully, all the participants in this video were all so engaging and wonderful…I enjoyed this presentation so much! Thank you.

[@patandersen4271]

Beautiful!! I'm loving your blouse/dress!! great video I appreciate you sharing your experience with us all.

[@ChiefIniMichELle]

I know my ancestor is from Madagascar and I so want to know my tribe🙏🏾🦋😇 Beautiful video. Thank you all for your service and light you share with the world 🖤❤💚

[@hobiniainarabarivelo1839]

Glad to know that your ancestor is from my Country!! 😊🇲🇬🇲🇬🇲🇬

[@onelevel2346]

Most blacks are from west Africa

[@nanaaraj]

I’m of Ghanaian decent from London, UK. This is good you’re travelling to Africa, especially Madagascar to volunteer. It’s good you’re helping Africa to grow and promoting good sides of it even though you’ve had some negative experiences. You get to learn more about the continent and understand your history. I feel some don’t want to experience black majority countries in Africa just simply because they don’t like the colour of our skin. For example, my best friend is Asian, Indian. She went to Egypt with her family. I heard it’s a lovely place, but would they explore Ghana? Probably not since it’s a black majority country whereas Egypt is a majority brown/Arab population. If you get what I mean? Ghana is nice too with so much resources and opportunities!

[@rindrambolamananamalala1843]

FYI, ... Madagascar is not a black majority population too.. but anyway..

[@marshmallow7640]

@@rindrambolamananamalala1843 Malagasy make up 96% of the population, and most Malagasy have 70% African/black dna with some having as low as 46%. I would say it’s majority black.

[@rindrambolamananamalala1843]

@@marshmallow7640 No, Malagasy people are in Majority Asians (70% and more), the Malagasy Language is an Austronesian Language like Tagalog, Ilokano & Cebuano (Philippines), Javanese, Indonesian, Malay, Maori... and not a Bantu or Khoisan one, like all the languages of Sub-Saharan Africa. Where did you find those stats? Have you ever been here in Madagascar? Because, I'm a Malagasy, born and grown up here, from Antananarivo more precisely (the capital, and largely the Most Populated Province of Madagascar), my great-great grandmother was the last queen of Madagascar, Razafindrahety or Ranavalona III and my Mother still bears the name of Razafindrahety, so I know and I'm totally aware of what I'm saying.

[@rindrambolamananamalala1843]

@@marshmallow7640 Take a look at the current President of Madagascar Andry Rajoelina, and then his predecessor Hery Rajaonarimampianina, and then the other former President before Rajaonarimampianina, Marc Ravalomananana.

[@marshmallow7640]

@@rindrambolamananamalala1843 My cousins live in madagascar and I found the info in two scientific journals

[@starhairthetutor3765]

Love the positivity! 😄 May you and all you meet be forever blessed.

[@beatsbymelody]

❤ i love this now i kinda have a feel of what to expect. Thankyou all for documenting your journey.

[@coachkandy6970]

I LOVED this one!!! No sugar coating. Real emotions and real reactions to real experiences. #BlackIsBeautiful

[@ferventlyanchored4731]

You know how we coming! Only the realest of the real over here haha 😄 But thank you so much for watching my video! I’m glad you liked it!

[@MegaRanjee]

I love the t-shirt on which it was written "Alefa Madagascar" the afro latina was wearing. ❤️ Really great video! Alefa vazaha amerikana! ❤️

[@andreannamond5081]

This was so powerful and informative! I'm preparing for my own service in Morocco and the reflections of B-RPV's has been so enlightening!

[@alsaulso1332]

Awe this is adorable!! Keep spreading Peace!!!

[@Chiedoz1e]

Tsara Be isika❤❤❤❤❤❤❤!!! Great Job you Guys! Awesome discussion. Love you all! This is my favorite video thus far Sydney. Keep it Up!!!!

[@ferventlyanchored4731]

Awwwn DOZZZ! Misaotra betsaka!! Thanks for always watching

[@billyandriam]

Thank you for your volunteering in our country.

[@hobiniainarabarivelo1839]

That was beautiful Sydney!! Misaotra betsaka anareo!PS: I enjoyed watching it while in Fenerive 😉🇲🇬

[@ferventlyanchored4731]

Misaotra betsaka anao! Thank you so much for taking the time to watch this video

[@bnhamm3014]

That was awesome and informative!

[@ferventlyanchored4731]

I’m so glad you liked it!!! Thanks for watching and being my first comment 💙 Truly appreciate it!

[@XxxclusiveReviews]

I truly love this video.... 😀

[@alexispetersburg1]

I miss Madagascar

[@andrytahianajoelrabenjamin7564]

Love this!

[@ferventlyanchored4731]

That makes me happy!! Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching 😊

[@patrickguillory-yy2gu]

If I ever get a chance to go to Madagascar, I would stay there forever…………Madagascar is a paradise ❤

[@JaieElizabeth]

I love this

[@Kiribatiboy2002]

I loved this video... fellow brown RPCV from the Island Nation of Kiribati!

[@Squ-290]

Love your smile.

[@natanaelarafera295]

Great content!! Yea your look Malagasy 😁

[@anitranovak2459]

Great & Story’s💜💜🫶🏾

[@mightylaser0000]

This almost made me cry.

[@chuckhiggins4940]

Many Black Americans have Malagasy ancestry. You'll often see "Indonesian", "Filipino", or "broadly SE Asain" show up on Black American DNA tests. This DNA comes from our Malagasy ancestors. It's crazy that the people of the island aren't aware that some of their kin ended up in America. And people still think that American = white even after almost a decade of Obama and a whole black First Family?

[@lampsaltlight]

That’s because the majority of people are not well educated. It’s because of the education system. Sad but true. I should know, I myself am Malagasy and used to work in the Ministry of Education.

[@isaacmtange3460]

I am watching you from Kenya

[@manaryrolienzafindratsara5621]

I really miss all o you sydney

[@RSmith1982]

what does the peace corps do?

[@AyeeeItsCam]

Being that Malagasy are technically mixed race Bantu (Black African) and Austronestian (Southeast Asian), did you feel like there was a difference by how you were viewed by Malagasy who look more on the Asian side vs Malagasy who more resemble their African side ?

[@AyeeeItsCam]

@Son Rob Uhm what does that have anything to do with what I said?

[@catherinesterling1685]

They are mixed like Black americans

[@Shay45]

@@catherinesterling1685 Not all African Americans are mixed.

[@rachelbailey3041]

How did you manage with natural hair products there ?

[@Paiige2000]

How was it living with a host family ? Were there other peace corp members close by ?

[@kshinokevin]

Sydney blended in Madagascar: I think that This is a Very Cool thing to See !!! Colorism is a sad thing though; I don't mind Mixed (Mestizo ?) Race / Bi-racial People.. Go Melanin (Black Girl/Guy) Magic !!! I like this Positivity vibe of Inclusion, even though you maybe considered as a "Foreigner" (with whatever slang term that the local Madagasi citizens may call you/y'all).

[@radical_like_khalid7765]

I’m seriously thinking about visiting Madagascar 🇲🇬 I want that island life. I’m currently in Alabama, 100 percent disabled veteran

[@urbnctrl]

Go man! You will find a new world of Polynesian and African cultural heritage. You can taste a bit of the Pacific and African side of the world in one trip!

[@dundealfitness7739]

@@kam7800 I’m going to Tanzania Oct 23rd, after that yes

[@zeviongray6883]

I would like to know more

[@dorothyrosegreen5848]

They are black too

[@isackchesoliwekesa1880]

when you listen me speaking oops same same guys from Tennessee 🤣 America

[@leonwoods4052]

I must say the Brother with the twisted hairdo look straight from the BUSH of AFRICA,there's no other reason why the people of Madagascar would think any different.

[@lalainaramarivelo]

Home. Home is home right? Not because everyone's right but because that's where you belong the most...lol, as a an uproot here living in the land of the free, i really miss home. Asio sôsisy kely aloha

[@ThomsoyaWires-mb3wk]

Woow good looking face.

[@N0phillter]

I need to talk to somebody I’m coming from San Francisco Bay Area California

[@isackchesoliwekesa1880]

😜😜😜😜am real black from Kenya east Africa 🤣🤣🤣I love my skin (napenda rangi yangu) translation in English 😛

[@XxxclusiveReviews]

When I watch this video... no disrespect but we are so lost... and it's not our fought.... please go back to connect more...

[@N0phillter]

I need to talk to u I’m tryna go to Madagascar. I’m from the bay

[@ainahrzk7850]

Big up to that guy saying that his fav bonding was learning the language, food and our culture 🙌🏼 his a real one… them girls be like “braiding our hair” like 🙄 duh wtf

[@bittypie]

You have to understand, black American women go through a lot of trauma regarding our hair. It is very freeing to be in a country where everyone has your type of hair and there is no stigma around it. Hair is a big bonding experience for us.

[@rachelbailey3041]

Word black women bond through hair it’s an act of love

[@N0phillter]

Bruh please holla at me

[@ashoknayaki7776]

Malagasy bible App Afrikaans bible App Arabic Bible English Bible Hindi bible Somali Bible Swahili Bible Russian Bible app Audio Bible install

[@manakara9821]

It's not Madagas kaar. it's Madagaska. I don't think the world would respect Peace Corps if they knew the truth.

[@chi-chi7224]

What’s the truth?

[@user-pd9fe1vx3i]

What's the truth

[@isackchesoliwekesa1880]

🤣🤣🤣Malagasy same same Kenya not American 🤣🤣🤣

[@leonwoods4052]

Why don't you educate the people about the African participation in the cross Atlantic slave trade,that may clear things up upon the question of you being "American".

[@TheBold1994]

I really want you guys to know truly just how the entirety of this video is absolute cringe! So it’s not just America that is systematically racist.

[@mightylaser0000]

Wtf are you talking about?

[@primitivosomera5484]

The kingdom of Maharlika the Austronesian people....

[@cedricliggins7528]

What can these volunteers teach the Malagasy culture which is a lot older and richer than so call black hood culture

[@mightylaser0000]

You’re not even Malagasy, African or Black scram stop trying to sow discord between people you aren’t apart of.

[@mightylaser0000]

You devil

[@bwayn6584]

It's not about teaching black hood culture, it's about hygiene and sanitary stuffs, especially in some remote places.

[@roselynholloway7863]

@@bwayn6584would you try peace corps

[@Demonte202]

Don't become no damn divesters it's of Satan

[@Pitchithard]

So what is the racial issue with black volunteers in a black country, maybe the volunteers need to stop being so sensitive over race issues and just help the local people cope with the poverty.

[@getbusydrizzy5296]

Black People - you all are not African American. You all are from the land of America. As Malcolm X says you all are AB-ORIGINAL

[@bwayn6584]

Malcolm X said some bs.

[@getbusydrizzy5296]

@@bwayn6584 so Africa is the civilization for all humanity?

[@getbusydrizzy5296]

I dont know your color so i cannot comment on where you are from. But the whole world know the truth but the blacks that are here. I travel in and out the country and I read. Malcolm knew the truth

[@bwayn6584]

@@getbusydrizzy5296 You mean black people in America (USA) are descendants of black ancestors who were natives of America (USA)? Before the Europeans? or Geronimo?

[@bwayn6584]

@@getbusydrizzy5296 I'm not black. I understand the suffering of Blacks in America but I don't think that Afrocentrism is the key to solve that suffering. Afrocentrism is a response to white supremacy and is just an inverted supremacy. The same thing.