Improving children's health and education

With 54% of primary-school-aged children in Anosy not enrolled in school and falling investment in infrastructure nationally, the education system is facing a crisis. Insufficient or non-existent sanitation facilities are also impeding school attendance and contributing to the transmission of harmful diseases. The Sekoly programme aims to make meaningful progress and provide safe, adequate, and healthy spaces for students to learn.

At Volobe Sud Primary School, construction of a three-classroom school building and repairs to the existing school infrastructure are now underway after the February groundbreaking ceremony. The school building’s walls are being erected, but progress has been affected by limited community capacity to contribute labour, as two construction projects were being implemented simultaneously. However, WASH education has already begun with the sensitisation of teachers and parents on the importance of WASH, alongside an initial site visit and inspection. Work will continue to progress over the coming months, with SEED also repairing the two existing latrines and constructing an additional four gender-segregated VIP latrines to support the school’s growing population. This will reduce the student-to-latrine ratio below the national ministry guideline of 50:1. Drinking and handwashing stations will be constructed at the school, alongside a MHM facility, which will provide students with a safe space to manage their menstruation at school with privacy and dignity.

The transformation of Karinoro Primary School is now entering its final stages, with construction work nearing completion and the project’s impact already becoming visible across the school site. The new three-classroom school building, together with the attached teacher accommodation, is structurally complete. 105 student desk-benches and four teacher table-and-chair sets have been delivered and assembled, meaning the learning spaces are now fully furnished and ready for use. The new gender-segregated latrine block and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) facility are also approaching completion, with the remaining works focused on paintwork and adding handrails to improve accessibility. The installation of a rainwater harvesting system is the final element of the project. Once installed, it will provide a reliable source of water for the school community, and the project will be completed.

Your support is creating lasting change, ensuring students, teachers, and the whole school community have access to safe, supportive, and healthy learning environments for years to come. Thank you.