PROJECT UPDATE
FEBRUARY-MARCH/2023
Inauguration of the school in Madagascar
We opened our first school in Madagascar on March 27th. The school is located in the “Cidade da Fraternidade”, in Ambovombe. The place is called Horova, which in Malagasy means “a good place in the future”. It has 12 classrooms to serve about 1000 children from Kindergarten to Elementary School. The space is open in both periods, morning and afternoon.
In addition, a volunteer initiative was launched to raise funds to build a playground on the site for students from 3 to 6 years old and receive more equipment for the school. It will be a groundbreaking construction, as there are no public spaces for children to play in the region.
Caravan
On March 17th, 13 caravanners left for Madagascar to work on the project. The sponsors helped finalize the construction of the Horova school and participated in the inauguration on March 27th. They contributed to the installation of the new sewing machines, carried out the evaluation process of the teachers who will work in Horova, and took care of those assisted by the project. The work was separated in groups by subjects: sewing and crafts, carpentry and education groups. The action ended on April 2nd.
Action Madagascar clinic receives a special invitation
The World Health Organization (WHO) brought together 18 health actions for the “Joint Construction of the Actions for the Nutritional Crisis Week” in southern Madagascar. The Action Madagascar clinic was invited to participate in the conference. The event takes place over five days and aims to organize the work of these entities so that they act collaboratively in the fight against malnutrition and public health conditions. The event takes place only in the southern region of Madagascar and it is the first edition in which the FWB project will participate.
Taking children out of malnutrition
Many of those children assisted are experiencing a new healthy life without hunger. The boys and girls welcomed by the project are evaluated by our collaborators and also by the caravanner sponsors. They receive adequate food and medicine. In January, those assisted had their vaccination cards updated and even when they are in better conditions, the children continue to be monitored by the project, which we call Nutritional Screening. The kitchen at the medical clinic has trained cooks to prepare food for those who are undernourished and also for patients who have improved.
Food production
The first crop of potato, corn and bean plantation in Ambovombe, in “Campo da Paz”, has already been harvested. With the rainy weather in Madagascar, it was possible to start planting the second crop of these vegetables.
Watermelon harvest
In February, we harvested the first and second watermelon crops grown in the project. There was over 180 kg of fruit made available on the plate of the attendees, turning the meal more colorful and healthy.
Many assisted suffer from Chromoblastomycosis
Volunteers from the Action Madagascar project launched an initiative to raise funds to purchase the drug Terbinafine for the treatment of Chromoblastomycosis - a long-term fungal infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue which generates large tumoral lesions and over time can cause deformities that impair the quality of life of those affected. There is also the risk of death when there is a generalized infection by opportunistic bacterias that enter through the wounds, in addition to the risks of evolution into cancer. Madagascar is the country with the highest number of cases of Chromoblastomycosis in the world. The action was launched in February and donations had a minimum value of R$ 64. We would like to thank everyone who contributed. Your help will allow adequate treatment for 83 people for eight months.
"The first time I was here in Madagascar I was very shocked and touched
because here you live in a very different way from all the things I really value: cleanliness, hygiene and organization. I thought - how would I feel if I was born there? But at the same time, I feel part of this place, this people… I could be a resident of Madagascar. I see how our project has grown and the inauguration of the school makes me feel that we are on the right path, that when we put our attention and will to accomplish something, God makes it possible. "
Ana Lúcia Bahia - Sponsor of the Project and Caravanner
