Bringing a School to Agnenga
Posted on 23 November 2009
Education facilities in the Anosy region of Madagascar are extremely limited. In some communities, children have to walk 20km to reach their nearest school. But even then the facilities are minimal and often inadequate. Azafady’s Project Sekoly is all about addressing this.
Agnenga was one of the many tiny hamlets to be found in Madagascar with poor schooling facilities. Azafady, funded by the Bobasch-Joel Foundation, have now built a school here; as the village already had a teacher, it was just a case of constructing a suitable building. Agnenga’s old makeshift school was also being used as a cyclone shelter, a town hall and even a church. It was time for Agnenga to have its own, purpose-built school that would be used solely for learning.
Another key aspect of Project Sekoly involves the provision of a safe water source and separate latrines for boys and girls. This would ensure that a child could attend school with all the facilities that they would need through the day.
In December 2008, the local community joined forces with Azafady project staff to begin preparations for the project. Helping to keep costs low, it turned out to be possible to refurbish an old well, rather than having to build a new one from scratch.
Participants in Azafady’s Pioneer Volunteer Programme were recruited to assist with the construction. Volunteers were taught basic building techniques, and received language lessons so that they could communicate with local labourers. Construction began on 15th January 2009 using locally sourced materials, and the latrine building began in April. Volunteers, both men and women, used local tools to erect walls, lay floors, construct benches and build shutters. They got to know local children and workers, and worked for hours in the blazing sun using traditional Malagasy techniques. They got hot and exhausted, were battered by torrential rains, and were even threatened by a cyclone. But these challenges did not quell their determination and enjoyment. The volunteers were proud to be part of such a valuable project, and seeing the children’s smiling faces made the whole experience unforgettable.
Now the school is up and running and children come eager to learn. With funding, more schools like the one in Agnenga can be constructed to improve the lives of children and their communities across the Anosy region of Madagascar.
1 Response to Bringing a School to Agnenga
I was one of the lucky ones who got to build this fantastic school. Best time of my life so far!!