About Us

We’re a Christian Humanitarian charity working in Madagascar, backed up by our teams in the UK and Netherlands, and supporters around the world Our mission is simple:

Our mission is simple:

We aim to bring aid to remote communities, build trust with the people we meet there, understand their needs, and tell others about the problems that they face

Reaching the Unreachable

Our Story

HoverAid began back in 1969 when it was discovered that hovercraft are the perfect solution for navigating tricky terrains—gliding over shallow waters, river systems, rapids, ice, and swamps where ordinary boats just can’t go. We officially became a charity in 1991, and since then, we’ve been dedicated to one clear goal: reaching the unreachable.

Our Approach

“Recognising God’s image in each other, and in community, we seek to follow Jesus and afford everyone the freedom, dignity and opportunity to move from poverty to plenty.”

We’re here to support, empower, and deliver aid, relief, education, and mission services to remote communities. By providing cost-effective access, we also help our partner organisations in Madagascar focus on what they do best in the areas where they’re needed the most.

Delivering essential aid to remote communities, ensuring dignity, freedom, and opportunity for all.

Overcoming extreme terrain and isolation to bring vital healthcare to those who need it most in Madagascar.

Our Work in Madagascar

In Madagascar, approximately 66% of the population faces difficulties in accessing care, exacerbating health inequalities. A significant portion of the population lives more than 5 km away from health facilities, creating substantial barriers to accessing care. Geographic, financial, and cultural barriers prevent many individuals from receiving necessary health services. Infrastructure issues, such as the lack of accessible roads in many regions of the island, especially during the rainy season, further impede access to healthcare.

In addition poor sanitation and infrastructure, lack of clean water, and inadequate understanding of good practices to combat avoidable diseases and improve longer-term health all lead to bad health outcomes for many.’

Why Hovercraft?

Hovercraft provide a unique capability, easily travelling over water, mud and swamps, and crucially along waterways too shallow for ordinary boats, so we are the only organisation able to access many remote communities, where others can’t.

Our team in Madagascar uses many other means of transport including our own 4*4 vehicles, boats, trucks, planes, and even ox carts, but the hovercraft is sometimes the only way possible to reach those isolated areas as well as being invaluable during or after floods, making it an invaluable tool in times of crisis.