Pioneers October 2009 Volunteer Diary no.2

Posted on 17 November 2009

We’ve just returned from Volobe - a beautiful remote village in south Madagascar - only a 2 hour bumpy ride and 3hr hike from Fort Dauphin!
The journey began in typical Malagasy fashion with the camion breaking down just outside Mahatalaky, where all the Pioneers were accosted by hundreds of school children on their school break. They entertained us with clapping games and songs until our mode of transport was repaired. The final leg of the camion ride was filled with enthusiasm and joy as locals jumped on the back of the vehicle just to support the Azafady team. Let the 3 hour trek begin… one river, 2 hills, many large puddles, and 3 shaky bridges later we arrived in Volobe.

Life in Volobe was completely different from our first week in Fort Dauphin. We woke early for breakfast, work began immediately after, and had a long lunch break during the hottest hours of the day. Showers were taken at the end of the work day – but not before you went down the hill to pump yourself a bucket of water (and climb up again!) Laundry was also done at this pump. Some days (before a shower) we would get in a quick game of football (soccer) with the locals. Evenings were spent under a temporary meal-shelter reading by candle-light, listening to the guides sing and play guitars, and getting to know each other better. Many of us did get sick that first week in the bush – where we were able to have intimate one-on-one time with the hole in the ground that was our toilet.

While in Volobe we worked on several projects: building a teachers house, fuel efficient stoves, English teaching and community mapping. The teacher’s house was our main project. We built it next to the existing school house constructed by a previous Pioneer team. We worked from 7am to 11am, and 1 to 4:30 everyday (with ample nap time in between). It was a simple structure that we built with help from the Azafady construction team. We learned quickly that precision isn’t the highest priority – JUST DO IT. Yet, we still ended up with a beautiful red, green, and white finished house that will never blow away.
*Note: Do not get Malagasy paint on you, it will NOT come off.

Another part of our work was on Fuel efficient stove construction, which is one of Azafady’s projects to reduce deforestation and the pressure of local endangered forest fragments, pollution and the time and energy that go into fuel-wood collection. They were installed into houses of families who had collected the materials ready for pioneer workers. It generally took 2-3 pioneers to build 2 stoves in a morning.

……Feel like you using too much fine wood in your home? Here’s how to make a fuel-efficient stove:

1. Take 5 buckets of clay,
2. Add 3 buckets of zebu pooh, preferably dry,
3. Sift them all together,
4. Add one bucket of sifted sand, * For best results really dig your hands into that zebu pooh,
5. Mix,
6. Add water and knead concoction into balls,
7. Hurl balls at mould (made of wood, a banana trunk and bamboo rods),
8. Finish with Azafady logo.

Towards the end of our stay in Volobe, we were able to interact with the community on a more regular basis. We did an afternoon of English teaching (self-explanatory) and community mapping – surveying the community to gain an understanding of local needs and their response to projects that Azafady has been running. It was really interesting to talk directly to the community. Furthermore, these meetings are great opportunities for some members of the team to find future husbands/wives (– don’t settle for anything less than 10 zebus, and take an honest translator)!!

One of the thrills of the whole experience was the 24th of October – the 350.org Day of Action for Climate Change. We made sure that Madagascar was on the map by organising a trek out to 350 sq. metres of original forest with a bunch of community members (mostly kids) in tow. When we got there we sang a song that the guides had composed about protecting the forest- and of course filmed and photographed it all. Special thanks to Lea (an Azafady staff member) who played a huge role in organising the action – and in intense heat gathered, sang, and ran with the children. Lea – you amaze us!!!

Our final night was all the celebration we could hope for – with a large party attended by over 100 community members, lots of dancing, and good bush food. We will miss Volobe very much, but back to Fort Dauphin we must go….3 shaky bridges, many puddles, 2 hills, and one river, another bumpy camion ride (no break-downs this time) and we’re back to running water and all the luxuries of a toilet you can sit on.

Thank you Azafady for a wonderful 1st Bush experience …let the next project begin!

Our 350 Planting Trees Song

Malagasy:

Verse 1 & 2
Hananizao misy fomba hafa aha
Misy fomba hafahafa aha
Hananizao fa tsapatsika fa ny ala dia tena ilaina

Chorus
Tsaoko e Tsaroko e
Soa ny mamboly hazo
Tsaroko e tsaroko e
Aruvatsika koa ny ala

Versus 3
Taloha sika nanapatapakala
sy nanao redoro ala
ka manao anio sasy
zalahy, fa sika androany
haboly hazo

Chorus.

English:

Verse 1 & 2
Right now there is strange behaviour (x2)
Right now we realise that the forest is important

Chorus
I remember, I remember its good to plant trees
I remember, I remember we also need to protect the forest

Verse 3
Before we used to cut down trees, and do slash and burn
Don’t do it any more, today we’re going to plant trees