Biographical portrait and social commitment of Father Pedro.

• Born on June 29, 1948, in San Martín, Argentina, to Slovenian parents, he joined the Lazarist Congregation, moved to Madagascar in 1975, and served as parish priest in Vangaindrano for 14 years. In 1989, he encountered families living at the Andralanitra dump and founded Akamasoa ('good friends') with them. fr.allafrica.com+15fr.wikipedia.org+15linfo.re+15.
• In December 1989, he founded the Akamasoa association, officially recognized as a public utility in 2004.

Akamasoa by the Numbers & Achievements

• Today, 18 villages shelter around 40,000 people (about 5,000 families) by Linfo.re en.wikipedia.org+2linfo.re+2linfo.re+2.
• Over 500,000 people have been lifted out of poverty since 1989. By rfi.fr+3rfi.fr+3fr.allafrica.com+3.
• In 2019, over 14,500 children attended Akamasoa schools, from nurseries to higher education centers. By linfo.re.
• Infrastructure: 37 to 72 schools (per German source), 3,600 jobs created, hospitals, maternity clinics, dispensaries, a cemetery, reforestation projects, spirulina production, quarries, and artisan workshops.

Success Stories of Former Akamasoa Children

Many beneficiaries have achieved great success :

• Liva, Now a middle school principal (survivor of the dump) By fr.wikipedia.org+8linfo.re+8it.wikipedia.org+8 information.tv5monde.com.
• Lydia Odette Rasoanantenaina, Former sorter, now in charge of the cafeteria and a stable family life. By linfo.re.
• Others have become : lawyers, engineers, midwives, architects. (Featured in Akamasoa’s comics and communications., cf. RFI et Réunion la 1ère) By de.wikipedia.org+15rfi.fr+15la1ere.francetvinfo.fr+15.

35 Years of Akamasoa (Oktober 2024)

• 20 octobre 2024 : Massive celebration before 30,000 people, attended by Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina, the First Lady, the French ambassador, and delegations from Réunion and France. By fr.allafrica.com+3vendee-akamasoa.com+3linfo.re+3.
• Father Pedro urged the youth to continue the work : « To you, the youth of Akamasoa, continue your fight… » it.wikipedia.org+132424.mg+13linfo.re+13.

International Recognition

• Knight (2007) and Grand Cross (2019) of the Malagasy National Order; Knight of the French Legion of Honor (2007). By fr.wikipedia.org.
• Decorated in Slovenia and nominated six times for the Nobel Peace Prize. By rfi.fr+2fr.wikipedia.org+2la1ere.francetvinfo.fr+2.

Funding & Sponsors

• Akamasoa operates 75% self-funded through quarries, workshops, spirulina, compost, and crafts. By vendee-akamasoa.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15madagascar-foundation.org+15.
• Each year, Father Pedro seeks sponsors: associations (France, Réunion, Slovenia, Australia), Kiwanis, Lions, Rotary International… 97% of donations go directly to projects. By linfo.re+9fr.wikipedia.org+9la1ere.francetvinfo.fr+9.
• He organizes conferences worldwide to rally new support. fr.wikipedia.org.

The Case of Nary Arthur

• Arriving at the village as a child, Nary Arthur grew up in Akamasoa. Today, an accomplished watercolor artist, he donates a portion of his artwork sales to the association’s humanitarian projects. Through personal discipline, he has become undeniably the New Master of Watercolor in Madagascar.
• His official website offers his paintings — with proceeds supporting Akamasoa : Buy Now Nary Arthur's paintings.

References & Press Links

• Vendée-Akamasoa : 35ᵉ anniversaire – 20 oct. 2024 2424.mg+3vendee-akamasoa.com+3linfo.re+3
• RFI : célébration des 35 ans, 500 000 personnes aidées rfi.fr
• Linfo.re : impact sur 40 000 personnes, citations de bénéficiaires linfo.re+1linfo.re+1
• Réunion La 1ère : BD retraçant le combat du Père Pedro la1ere.francetvinfo.fr+1rfi.fr+1
• TV5Monde : visite du pape François au village en 2020–2025 information.tv5monde.com
• Linfo.re 2019 : 14 500 enfants scolarisés linfo.re+1linfo.re+1
• Wikipedia (FR et EN) : biographie et chiffres Akamasoa .

AKAMASOA: Restoring dignity to the most excluded « PARIAS »

At 77, Father Pedro Opeka remains a pillar of hope and dignity in Madagascar. From the dump to building self-sufficient villages, spanning education, employment, health, and the environment, his work exemplifies social transformation and dignity. With partners, sponsors, and former beneficiaries like Nary Arthur, Akamasoa’s inspiring journey continues

Follow and Support:

• Official Akamasoa Website : http://www.perepedro-akamasoa.net/
• Support Nary Arthur (Charity Watercolors) : https://aquarellearthur.io-madagascar.com/fr

Feel free to request interviews, additional testimonies, or updates on the village’s current projects..

77th birthday of Father Pedro Opeka as seen by the press

Here is a list of media outlets that covered Father Pedro’s 77th birthday (born June 29, 1948) or his recent activities, with a brief summary for each. :

1. LINFO.re (Océan Indien, édition Madagascar)
   • Article du 29 juin 2024 intitulé « Le père Pedro fête ses 76 ans ! », retraçant sa naissance en Argentine et son engagement depuis 50 ans à Madagascar, notamment la création d’Akamasoa information.tv5monde.com+14linfo.re+14laverite.mg+14.
2. RFI (Radio France Internationale)
   • Le 4 janvier 2025, émission spéciale « Père Pedro : “Il y a une place pour chaque pauvre de la Terre” », où il raconte son combat humanitaire à Madagascar, soulignant ses 50 années de mission rfi.fr+1rfi.fr+1.
3. Réunion La 1ère
   • Plusieurs articles :
     • 15 novembre 2023 : « Figure de Madagascar, le père Pedro est en visite à La Réunion », retraçant sa tournée pour promouvoir son livre Résiste la1ere.francetvinfo.fr+2la1ere.francetvinfo.fr+2la1ere.francetvinfo.fr+2.
     • 7 juin 2021 : BD sur son œuvre Akamasoa, mentionnant son prochain anniversaire (à l’époque 73 ans) .
4. AllAfrica / RFI via AllAfrica
   • 21 octobre 2024 : article francophone relatant les 35 ans d’Akamasoa et citant ses 76 ans lors des célébrations la1ere.francetvinfo.fr+10fr.allafrica.com+10rfi.fr+10.
5. TV5MONDE
   • 27 avril 2025 : vidéo et article sur la visite du pape François à Akamasoa, mentionnant l’œuvre continue du Père Pedro By  la1ere.francetvinfo.fr+3information.tv5monde.com+3laverite.mg+3.
6. Nice‑Matin (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France)
   • 4 juin 2025 (conference à Antibes) : « Madagascar, un pays qui m’a accueilli comme un ami… », où le Père Pedro, âgé de 77 ans, évoque son parcours et appelle à la solidarité rfi.fr+11nicematin.com+11information.tv5monde.com+11.
7. Journal.re (La Réunion)
   • Article récent (date non précisée mais post‑77 ans) rappelant l’histoire d’Akamasoa, ses 35 ans d’existence, ses villages et son combat contre la misère grâce à l’exemple du Père Pedro nicematin.com+11journal.re+11fr.allafrica.com+11.

Summary Overview :