By Martina Petru | Project Coordinator
The Construction of the Community Center in Ranobe has finally gotten to a full swing after few months, awaiting the allocation of raised funds to Madagascar.
Ho Avy has turned this waiting period into an opportunity to carefully discuss and plan the center together with the community. It has proved greatly beneficial to take this time and have the villagers express their perspective, wishes and desires for what the center may become.
The location of the center has been agreed upon with the FIMPAHARA members (see photos). The center will be close to the FIMPAHARA living compound in a beautiful corner of the village, on the bank of Lake Ranobe that has been for decades cultivated into and dense lush evergreen orchard of mangos, bananas, papayas, guavas and citruses. The view from the site is spectacular with a majestic ‘lighthouse’ sight of the baobab Adansonia grandidieri and the Ranobe forest eastwards. Ho Avy’s recent census count and socio-economic survey performed in the Ranobe village by a group of 7 bachelor students from the University of Toliara (see photo), supervised by Paubert, Ho Avy’s social organizer, has further streamlined the community opinion and ideas. During the community meeting preceding the survey, the villagers said: “We want to be healthy, we want clean water, and we want hospital”. Then the ladies stepped up: “We are tired; we don’t want more babies”. It became clear that a medical institution, an affective family planning program and education, is our priority for the on-going drive on the Global Giving site and elsewhere.
The final design of the center has been laid out. The center will have a barn-like building aprox. 12 by 8 m foundation size and will be primarily a space for storage of agricultural products, and tools, library and educational props and basic medical supplies (until more funds are raised for a real Clinique). There will be, additionally, one round pavilion (ca. 12 m across) for gathering, social events, musical performances, etc. embedded in a diverse garden and agroforestry landscape.
Yesterday, a large portion of the construction material (cement, nails, screws, limestone blocks and items other than locally available mud, thatch, and building rocks), has been gathered in the town of Toliara. They were transported to the Ranobe village. In the next couple days Anthony will head to the city Fianarantsoa in the Madagascar’s highlands for ordering Eucalyptus wood and bamboo, as the construction will avoid further cutting of local wood.
Without your support, the construction of the community center for bettering lives of the rural people in the Ranobe village, and indirectly safeguarding the unique spiny forest, would be impossible.
We do continue raising funds; now prioritizing health and education. Would you find these aspects of the center extension appealing and worth your further support? Would you recommend supporting this case to your contacts, so we can all work together to attract wider support? Would you recommend experienced health practitioners and educators to provide with advice on the design of a rural tropical climate Clinique? We’d be happy to hear your voices.
By Martina Petru | Project Coordinator
By Anthony Arnold | Director and Field Operation Coordinator
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