Sustainable management of the Makira Forest requires changes in the practices of local subsistence farmers. CPALI teaches them silk rearing that bolsters family income by 60-200% and restores habitat.

The community asked Zahana to help them build their school. Over 50 children age 5-15 have no access to a school, others must walk for 1-2 hours to attend overcrowded schools in other villages.

Using solar cookers in the village's school to prepare meals by and for the students. Introducing a new technology to the village via the children, reduces the need to chop down firewood trees.

The Center will empower local community organizations and local capacity building in Ranobe. It will be a space for learning, meeting, working, and facilitating sustainable livelihoods.

Zahana wants to plant 10 trees for each woman, child and man in our villages. Based on community feedback, the villagers will actively work as re-foresters and caretakers on this ambitious goal: planting 15,000 trees over the next few years. Drawing on our gardeners' years of experience growing seedlings and planting trees successfully, it is time to scale up our efforts and plant a new forest.

Creating a dedicated seed fund for micro-enterprise projects. Initiated and implemented by the villagers, with support from Zahana, it makes a huge difference overcoming the grip of object poverty.

Our project will provide advanced training in handicraft for 5 poor mothers living in slums in Antananarivo and support them to establish a small business and therefore securing a sustainable income. Microcredits will be given for the material (raphia) needed. In a 2nd step a small factory will be build to produce and sell the craftwork as well as small houses for the women and their families. As an alternative source of income a café will be opened. Also French courses will be offered.