Teacher Helps Community Development Volunteers Rebuild School

We are all Volunteers

Life in the village means living as part of a very inter-connected community. Everyone helps everyone; that is just part of life here. Volunteers rebuild schools with teachers’ help when needed, as was the case recently in Marodoka. In the span of a few minutes, you can gather large groups of people to help pull boats out of the water during rough weather. Food is often shared. Childcare duties are shared. There is a general air of connectedness. It isn’t unusual for a passerby to ask to share your drinking water, whether they know you or not. People help one another when needed, from carrying heavy items off boats to helping rebuild houses. When something needs doing, people pitch in to get it done. It is one of the things I love about the place and the people here.

Mamoudou Tavandra Mohibo embodies this sense of community. The 34-year-old grew up in Marodoka and now raises his 9-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter there. He keeps active within the community and plays football on the local team in his free time. For the last seven years, his main duties have been at the school. Mamoudou teaches primary school at level three and has watched the ebb and flow of EPP Ambanoro school district in Marodoka. He was there when cyclone Enawo destroyed a quarter of their school in March 2017. His love for the community and gentle nature have proven a powerful force in helping with the school rebuild.

Our construction team often brings a packed lunch since Marodoka is quite a distance from Turtle Cove, our base on Nosy Komba. Every morning, volunteers catch the 6:00am boat from Nosy Komba to Hellville on Nosy Be, then take a tuk tuk to Marodoka. To make the most of their time, they bring packed lunches. Glass plates are heavy and risky to transport, so large leaves are often used as plates instead.

Mamoudou, seeing this predicament, hosted the team at his house near the school. His children play outside while volunteers settle in, his wife handing out plates. This became part of the routine during the school rebuild. One volunteer, Mark Thijssen, captured photos of students at play and, with the teachers’ help, hung the photos in each classroom.

Beyond providing inspiration and lunch, Mamoudou helps with the actual construction. He has been involved from the beginning and recently applied the final coat of paint and finishing touches on the classrooms. He watches the completed rooms with pride while children play around them — this is true community.

Check out our Community Development Program!