Photos and words by Greg Miller, Donor Advised Fund Program Officer
Baobab trees and lemurs. Vast parched deserts and wet, dense rainforests. What springs to mind when you think of Madagascar? For me, it’s water.
The world’s fourth largest island is home to more than 21 million people, most of whom live on less than $2 a day. Since 2009, Aveda and Global Greengrants have partnered to help communities get access to clean and healthy drinking water. Most recently, we funded a community to protect an endangered lemur habitat near the southern tip of the country. In June, I had the pleasure of visiting this community and others we’ve supported. Throughout my trip I was touched by the welcome I was received with, and I was inspired by the stories of how communities have changed because of our support. These pictures represent the spirit of the communities and the work they are doing to protect and preserve their water sources.
The town of Ampasimanjeva has been a focus point for multiple grants. With Aveda, we have supported two projects that deliver water to the center of this 30,000-person township. The population swells to 40,000 people during the clove harvests in September. The tank only disperses about 3,000 liters per day, so the water is used solely for drinking and cooking. Local people use river water for washing.
Razanajatovo Dorgeles is the president of a fokontany (subdivision within the village) in Ampasimanjeva. Part of his duties include making sure the water tank and fountains are functioning correctly.
This is the river where people get water for washing. In addition to the labor involved, community members have been attacked by crocodiles. Pumping water to the center of town allows families to avoid sending their kids to the river every day.
This is a view of Imongy village and a lemur preserve. Our most recent grant in Madagascar was to a group in Imongy called ADRIS. The project aims to set up two areas of protected forest and habitat for lemurs. The forest is also home to many natural and manmade water collection basins, such as pits that fill up during the rainy season.
Ringtailed lemurs. These amazing primates are found only on Madagascar.
Left to right: Mosa (Director of Secondary School and Tsingoky Forest Technician), Jeannot Ramambason (ADRIS Director), Charlot Razakaharivelo (Global Greengrants’ consultant for Madagascar grants), Edmond Avisoa (President of Tsingoky Forest)
The water project in Taindambo village is one of our most recent. Out of six fokontany in the 20,000-person village of Taindambo, two have water projects installed. This is Christian Olivier Randrianarison, Mayor of Taindambo, standing in front of a project fountain.