Construct Community Outreach Center, SW Madagascar

Dear Supporters of the project Construct Community Outreach Center in SW Madagascar

We wanted to take this opportunity to send you an update directly from the field about the project progress and let you know how things are coming along here in southwest Madagascar.

We have now secured all the material to build the center, including Eucalyptus wood and bamboo brought over from the city of Fianarantsoa in the Madagascar’s Highlands, to keep the construction friendly to the unique spiny forest, from which wood would have been harvested otherwise. The construction material is on site and the community has finally decided on the final site plan and design for the building. The center will be a local barn style building with two stories, the bottom red clay walls and the top story will be bamboo and reed walls. There will be one room for storing equipment and a veranda for socializing, community gathering, joined learning and viewing the splendid gardens and birds around the Ranobe lake.

In late April, in the mids of the final planning for the center with the community, Ho Avy and the Ranobe village welcomed a long-anticipated visit from the Sun Power Foundation, Vote Solar and the California Academy of Sciences, an outstanding team of professionals (see photos), who came challenged with a task to participate on developing green solutions for deforestation in the region (see photos). This excellent visit created an invaluable opportunity for reconciling and brainstorming about how to tackle this very difficult challenge. The solar team generously donated a superb solar system to power the community outreach center that all of you contributed to with your donations! This is indeed a very exciting improvement of the future operation of the center.

 
Ho Avy orchestrated a meeting between the international solar team, the local community and government officials, to announce the solar powering of the community center (see photos). When villagers were asked how electricity could help improving lives in the village, a clinic and publicly lighted areas for security were the top requests. Both the villagers and officials were thrilled about these collaborative ideas and this meeting was broadcasted nationally in Madagascar (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91b0Lmi_oqU) and even picked got up by the world press.

 
In response to these voices from the community, Ho Avy will be looking for further funding to staff the center with a local health worker(s) and create alternative education programs raising consciousness about environmental issues and development opportunities linked with natural resource protection. At this time, financial contributions to achieve these interlinked goals and support sustainable growth of developmental and educational efforts of Ho Avy through the community center would be highly valued and graciously accepted. Our overall fundraising goal of 10,000 USD for the community center is yet to be reached.

 
In the last couple of weeks, Ranobe villagers have been harvesting summers crops that were able to withstand the drought: corn, beans, squash, sweet potatoes, rice and manioc. Now they are replanting their fields as rains have shown up unexpectedly several months late. In the beginning of July, crops will be planted and villagers will be ready to raise the community center and begin to cultivate the land around it. We have confidence that with all materials already on site and a clear plan, we will be able to construct the center by the end of August.

 
Finally, we’d like to welcome you to view an overall update of Ho Avy’s activities in Madagascar on Ho Avy’s web site (www.hoavy.org, Ho Avy on Facebook).

Links:

• regional and national TV presenting the community meeting
• international press featuring the solar team visit to Ranobe