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Category: Community Development

Community Volunteers Build A School
AchievementsBlogCommunity Development

Community Volunteers Build A School for Andrekareka Be

Community Volunteers Build A SchoolAt Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute, we are always striving to improve the lives of the people we come into contact with on the island.  Our latest project is to build a school.  Our community development volunteers, along with many of the local people from the village, are in the process of building the school for Andrekareka Be on Nosy Komba.

Andrekareka Be is an amazing little community with awesome people just 20 minutes away from the research centre.  The children of Andrekareka Be Community Volunteers Build A Schoolcurrently walk for an hour over rough terrain to the nearby villages of Ampangorina or Kely to attend classes, so they are extremely excited about having their own school.  They have been working on the school for the last 7 weeks, and it is finally nearing completion.

The money to build the school has been raised and donated by a school in Texas through one of our interns. Another volunteer, Chloe Stewart, has set up a Go Fund Me page for tables, chairs, blackboards, and other supplies to furnish the school once it is built.   Progress is going very well, but there are still a few more building supplies to purchase before our project is completed.

If you would like to support us in this final stretch of bringing this school to life, please visit the Go Fund Me page here.

Community Volunteers Build A School

Contact us today to find out how you can join our volunteer programs in Madagascar.

Volunteer Raises Money for Community Sports
BlogCommunity DevelopmentReviews

Volunteer Raises Money for Community Sports

We are constantly amazed at the passion and dedication of our volunteers to the community they work with in Madagascar.  A former volunteer, Taylor, shares her experiences:

Volunteer Raises Money for Community Sports“I arrived at the Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute (MRCI) basecamp on Nosy Komba, Madagascar December 6, 2016. At this point I had no clue what was in store for me and did not anticipate falling in love with a culture and its people the way I did. Coming into camp as an English teacher, I learned that I was also placed under a broader category of volunteers titled “Community,” and was soon challenged to create a community-based project. Although it took some time to come up with an attainable project, I finally proposed the idea of raising money to purchase sporting equipment for local schools. A few particular events sparked this idea.

Volunteer Raises Money for Community SportsNot long after I arrived, the community team, myself included, donated money to purchase supplies to fix up a local village’s basketball court. Since the court has been fixed, games have brought the community together on a daily basis. This particular event resonated with me as I grew up playing various sports where local teams thrived off of community involvement and spirit. In addition, it made me realize how easily things such as gymnasiums, organized practices, coaches, and equipment availability can be taken for granted. I knew I wanted work on a project that would benefit a community and I had to tie it to something that locals were passionate about. It then dawned on me; we were able to bring the community of Ampangorina together by simply aiding the people with needed supplies, which in turn allowed them to come together through sport. After talking with the community coordinator and ranting about my hometowns community spirit, I knew I needed to ask for help.

Volunteer Raises Money for Community SportsI was raised in Drumheller, Alberta, a small town in Western Canada. Growing up here, it was quickly learned what it meant to be a part of a small community. This community has come together on various occasions when either a family or an organization was in need of support. Having been given the opportunity to play and be a part of multiple school teams growing up, I was able to establish interpersonal relationships not only with team members, but also with coaches and teachers. Knowing how my community has come together in the past to help those in need, I knew I could reach back to my roots for support.

Volunteer Raises Money for Community SportsI soon contacted the principal of the high school I attended, Drumheller Valley Secondary School (DVSS), and proposed my goal and challenge to the schools current students. I wanted to challenge students of DVSS to each donate just one loonie ($1.00CAD) in hopes to raise enough money to purchase just one sports ball per school on the island of Nosy Komba. We set the initial goal at $350.00CAD. The principal, Mr. LaPierre, agreed that this would be a great learning experience and opportunity for students to help fellow students. The plan was then quickly put into action. Mr. LaPierre challenged all students to bring in $1.00CAD where he would then reward the class who raised the most money with a pizza party.

It was clear that the students were more than ambitious to help out their peers on the other side of the world. In two days’ time, the students and staff of DVSS raised $695.00 CAD. I was ecstatic when I was notified that our initial goal was essentially doubled. This enabled myself, with the help of staff and fellow volunteers to venture out and purchase the sporting equipment!

Volunteer Raises Money for Community SportsWith the money raised, we were able to purchase a total of 28 soccer balls, 14 regular basketballs, 4 small basketballs, 15 small rubber balls and 5 pumps.  In addition, we were able put money towards a boat and skippers in order to easily transport and deliver the sporting equipment. Balls were delivered to all schools and villages on Nosy Komba as well as schools on Nosy Be.

Delivering the equipment was a heartfelt and gratifying experience. I was truly moved by just how grateful and happy students, teachers and villagers were by something as simple as one or two sport balls. I also cannot express how amazed I am by everyone that came together to accomplish the proposed fundraiser. The students of DVSS proved yet again just what the town of Drumheller is able to accomplish when they come together. The students of DVSS invested their own money in order to allow students in Madagascar the opportunity to come together as a community through sport. One person can feel small alright, especially when you venture into the wide open world. However, this project has shown that if each one of us do a little bit, bigger things can happen. This idea was made a reality thanks to the students and staff of DVSS along with the staff of MRCI and the community of Nosy Komba”.

If you would like to find out how you can join us in making a difference, contact us today.

Madagascar Volunteers - volunteers play basketball
AchievementsBlogCommunity DevelopmentIsland Life

Volunteers Bring Communities Together With Basketball

Madagascar Volunteers - volunteers play basketballMadagascar Research and Conservation Institute’s Community Co-ordinators, Niamh Flynn and Rojo Andofinoana Razafisalama, came together with volunteers and villagers to rehabilitate the old basketball courts in Ampangarina, Nosy Komba. The team reached out to several groups to raise funds, reconstructed the goal posts and court, and held a community tournament all within 3 short weeks. This was an impressive feat that couldn’t have been accomplished without the help of Marsellin and other members of the Nosy Komba community.

Madagascar Volunteers - volunteers play basketballNiamh and Rojo reached out to Noelle Couper at Warriors Basketball Club in Dublin, Ireland requesting support for this project. The club responded generously, being the main contributor to the near $500 raised for the project. With these funds, new goal posts could be constructed with new hoops and nets, and the courts were cleaned and repainted. Once the funds came through, the community and volunteers came together and completed the work in mere 10 days!

Madagascar Volunteers - volunteers play basketballVolunteers wanted to mark the opening of the courts by holding a tournament and the response from the community was overwhelming. Four teams were formed; BB Aliomo, BB Chicago, AS Jetno, and of course the volunteers’ team – Camp. The dedicated teams practiced continuously and were in tiptop shape for the big day. To ensure a fair match, a referee from Nosy Be was brought in to oversee the tournament. People from all over Nosy Komba came to support their teams which resulted in a fun and festive day all around! In round one BB Aliomo beat out BB Chicago and AS Jetno beat out Camp. BB Aliomo won the tournament over AS Jetno in the shootout. The day was shrouded in fun and excitement for sure!

Madagascar Volunteers - volunteers play basketballSince the reconstruction of the basketball courts and the tournament, people have been seen enjoying them every day. Villagers young and old, boys and girls can be found shooting hoops and having a great time all day and even into the night with the moonlight! It has truly brought so much joy and togetherness to the villagers of Ampangorina and Nosy Komba. Thank you to all who contributed physically and financially, your contributions will be lasting in the hearts of those who get so much enjoyment with these new courts.

To find out more about how to join our volunteers in Madagascar, contact us today or complete our online application form.

Madagascar Volunteer: Volunteers Complete Toilet Block 2
AchievementsBlogCommunity Development

Volunteers Complete Toilet Block 2

Madagascar Volunteer: Volunteers Complete Toilet Block 2

Toilet Block 2 in Andrekareka Hely is finished!

Well done MRCI staff and volunteers!  We are all very excited to announce that Toilet Block 2 in Andrekareka Hely village is finished and up and running, complete with a beautiful paint job!

Madagascar Volunteer: Volunteers Complete Toilet Block 2

Madagascar Volunteer: Volunteers commence Toilet Block 3

 

Block 3 is in progress and nearing completion.  Our Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute volunteers are continuing to work hard with our local partners in the village to get these projects done.

Thank you all for your continued support.  Thanks to you, we surpassed our original fundraising goal!  That’s not to say that our work is complete…in fact we’ve found that the more we accomplish, the more demand we have for future projects.  This is certainly a positive cycle!

Madagascar Volunteer: Volunteers commence Toilet Block 3

Madagascar Volunteer: Volunteers commence Toilet Block 3

 

Please continue to share and support in any way you can as we work to expand our construction projects.  One of our next goals is to complete a Toilet Block in another nearby village, Andrekareka Be.

If you would like to support our work, please visit our Go Fund Me page: https://www.gofundme.com/nosykomba and “like” our construction page on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kombaconstruction/ to keep up to date with our progress.

To find out how you can join our volunteers in Madagascar, complete our online application form or contact us today.

Volunteers Community Projects in Andrekareka Hely
AchievementsBlogCommunity Development

Volunteers Build Toilets in Andrekareka Hely

Volunteers Community Projects in Andrekareka Hely

Volunteers participating in the Teaching & Community program are regularly involved
with construction projects to improve the lives of the people living on the island.

Volunteers Community Projects in Andrekareka Hely
Despite the incredibly rich plant and animal life, Madagascar is among the 10 poorest countries in the world, leaving its people with precious little to invest into the infrastructure of their villages.

To address some of these problems, MRCI has recently begun a construction partnership with a nearby village, Andrekareka Hely. The village is very isolated, only accessible by boat or by rough forest paths. There is an estimated population of 300 people, with another 200 living in the surrounding area. The primary means of employment are fishing, subsistence agriculture, and hammering granite by hand to sell as gravel.

Volunteers Community Projects in Andrekareka HelySeveral initial meetings between ourselves and the President and Vice President of Andrekareka Hely took place in April 2016 to discuss community needs for construction projects.  Earlier this month, a joint community meeting was held involving the residents of Andrekareka Hely and volunteers from MRCI, with the goal of establishing a list of community needs for construction projects. That list is as follows:

  1. Public Toilet Block- there are currently no toilets in Hely. Villagers use the surrounding area, contaminating the drinking water. A public toilet block would eliminate this problem and decrease incidences of diseases such as Typhoid Fever.
  2. Water Cistern- the current water situation in Hely is grim. During the rainy season, water is supplied through a simple system of pipes from a nearby waterfall. Unfortunately, this is insufficient to meet the needs of the village during the dry season. Consequently, for 6 months of the year, residents need to carry buckets of water from small streams or fill buckets in other villages several kilometres away.
  3. Trash Burning Pit/Dump Site- there is no infrastructure in place for proper trash disposal. Much of the trash currently ends up in the ocean, wreaking havoc on the local coral reef. Burning trash is not an ideal solution, but is still better than the existing options.
  4. Pharmacy Building- the nearest pharmacy is 5km away, via a rough hiking trail. The closest hospital is on an adjacent island. If residents of Hely are able to provide a pharmacy building, the government is obligated to supply medicine and a trained worker.

Volunteers Community Projects in Andrekareka Hely

Volunteers have begun work on a public toilet block, the community’s first priority.  A plan for the first toilet block and purchasing of the first round of materials began at the end of April.  Residents of Hely have provided a construction plan and a foreman and are taking it in shifts to work with our team to provide the necessary labour.

Volunteers Community Projects in Andrekareka Hely

With great support from our volunteers and all people back home, we have started fundraising for this project.  To date, there have been 65 online donations totalling almost $4,000, with several donations from current and previous volunteers as well.  Visit our GoFundMe page to donate. Two blocks of toilets are being built in Hely.  They will each have two toilets with one washroom in between them.

https://www.gofundme.com/nosykomba

There is still much work to be done but with a positive attitude and the hard working team of volunteers and members of the community, we believe to finish these blocks in a few weeks. We hope to continue the partnership that we have started with Andrekareka Hely and for our volunteers to participate in several community construction projects down the road.

If you would like to make a difference during your gap year and be a part of community projects like these,

contact us today or apply online.