Sekoly: Sarisambo

The three-classroom building at Sarisambo is complete! The additional two-classroom build is underway, with the first layers of foundation having been laid. Alongside this, work on the on-site teacher accommodation has commenced. 

In Madagascar it is estimated that 6,900 Malagasy children die annually from water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) related diseases. 81% of schools in Madagascar have no water service, and a staggering 97% of the Anosy population do not have access to basic sanitation. By providing safe, clean water and sanitation, SEED’s Sarisambo Project works to improve both education and WASH, helping reduce disease transmission, decrease teacher and students absenteeism, increase academic achievement, and help young girls improve their menstrual health and hygiene management, allowing for a positive and dignified learning environment. 

As such, SEED’s WASH construction activities at the lower secondary school are also underway! April saw five new gender-segregated latrines and a MHM facility constructed at Sarisambo Primary School, helping to reduce the student-to-latrine ratio to below national ministry guidelines. May welcomed the completion of one of two new latrine blocks, whilst construction of the second block anticipates completion in July. 

After a successful pilot in Mandiso Lower Secondary School, Programme Sekoly now includes reusable pad-making sessions and MHM education in all projects at the lower and upper secondary levels. In March these sessions were delivered in Sarisambo Lower Secondary School and enabled female students to make three of their own cost-effective, durable, and sanitary menstrual pads.

The expansion and improvement of education infrastructure alongside comprehensive education sessions on menstrual health, STIs, contraception, puberty, and other key topics, helps provide an environment conducive to learning for the 726 students at Sarisambo Primary and Lower Secondary schools. Thank you for your support!

SEEDs biggest construction project to date is well under way, taking strong steps forward on our mission to help provide improved education and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure for all children within the Sarisambo community. With foundations taking hold, the team has continued to overcome challenges and are working closely with the community in the project's progress.

To date, the site has been cleared making way for the additional school building and a formal groundbreaking ceremony bringing good luck to the project has taken place. With the help of a locally sourced tractor, transport of materials has advanced, with the team no longer having to carry supplies the last 2 km to the remote site. The first foundation pit has been dug for latrine blocks and is close to completion with the second pit soon due to start construction. The walls for the Lower Secondary classes have started taking shape and now reach near window height. Repairs on the roof for the existing school building also continue to make strong progress with the added help of a newly employed rock breaker from the local community maximising the production of cement mix, flooring and walls.  

After the year's first big cyclone threatened to impact progress, work continued and the team adapted to these circumstances with minimal disruption bringing confidence that the new roof design will help the school to be more resilient. The chain of work underway is helping each component of the project come together. The support from the community continues to highlight the projects importance and the passion by both the team and community in helping reduce underdevelopment and vulnerability in the area through providing educational and WASH facilities for many children and teachers and assisting in building a prosperous future. 

The preparation activities for Project Sekoly: Sarisambo are underway! SEED has conducted site visits to Sarisambo Primary and Lower Secondary School and is in the process of updating project plans accordingly. The team is motivated to begin one of the organisation’s largest construction projects to date! The high demand for improved education infrastructure in the community has the students and teachers engaged and excited. The mayor of Sarisambo welcomed a large turnout in a speech anticipating preparation (pictured).

As construction is scheduled to commence in January 2023, pre-build activities are currently being conducted. Pre-project meetings have been held with key stakeholders such as the Village Head, Mayor of Sarisambo, Head Teacher, and SEED, where each party has outlined their various commitments and responsibilities to the project. WASH activities including teacher training and student education sessions are anticipated to take place in December 2022. The SEED WASH and Education Infrastructure team is excited to begin construction activities in the new year and will continue to provide updates as the project develops!