fresh2o in Madagascar
Madagascar is a challenging environment to implement water and sanitation programs. Many communities suffer from extreme poverty, live in very remote locations and water is not easily accessible, health is a serious issue due to lack of clean water and sanitation education.
fresh2o are working with local NGO’s that are able to collaborate in delivering programs that tackle all aspects that contribute to water-related disease and have demonstrated best practice in this challenging environment. fresh2o has now helped to install 23 wells in the Ambalavao region of Madagascar, and work is continuing to drill even more in association with Feedback Madagascar – Ny Tanintsika (FBM/NT) , who have worked in the commune of Ambohimahamasina since 1997, with an integrated approach to rural development including health promotion, education, agricultural development, income-generating schemes and environmental management.
Local technicians are being trained up alongside the work, to ensure that there is local capacity for maintenance work. Water committees have been set up for each of the wells and follow-up support is given regarding the management of the infrastructure to ensure it is sustainably managed.
The target communities are responsible for paying 125,000 Ariary (used for the purchase of gravel, sand and bricks) as well as for providing the water required during the work. This is to build a sense of responsibility and ownership of the infrastructure.
Each community has also signed agreements attesting to abide by the rules that must be respected to prevent water contamination, notably: - that no latrine will be built within a distance of 20m around the well - that no animal pen will be erected within a distance of 20m around the well - that a fence will be put up around the well. The owners of the land where the wells are put in place also signed letters confirming their donation of the land for the community’s use.
Each well will have a water quality test carried out (using the Delagua kit) once the series of chlorination treatments have been completed.
Money raised through fresh2o will continue to be placed into the maintenance of current water and sanitation schemes, as well as developing educational programmes. The creation of future water proects will be established by process of consultation as fresh2o builds on current relationships and inaugurates future ones with sponsors and partners in the field of fresh water and sanitation.
Quotes from some of the people you’ve helped:
Rasoa in Andoharano village: “Having this clean water supply means everything to us. Before we fetched water from an open canal running down the hillside. We know it’s dirty but we had no choice. Our children often suffered from diarrhoea. We are so happy to have this well, thank you so much for your help”.
RaThérèse in Tanamarina village: “Working on this well has strengthened village solidarity. I’m sure that our water committee will be strong and sustainable, and this well will bring good luck to us for the future”.
Madagascar is a challenging environment to implement water and sanitation programs. Many communities suffer from extreme poverty, live in very remote locations and water is not easily accessible, health is a serious issue due to lack of clean water and sanitation education.
fresh2o are working with local NGO’s that are able to collaborate in delivering programs that tackle all aspects that contribute to water-related disease and have demonstrated best practice in this challenging environment. fresh2o has now helped to install 23 wells in the Ambalavao region of Madagascar, and work is continuing to drill even more in association with Feedback Madagascar – Ny Tanintsika (FBM/NT) , who have worked in the commune of Ambohimahamasina since 1997, with an integrated approach to rural development including health promotion, education, agricultural development, income-generating schemes and environmental management.
Local technicians are being trained up alongside the work, to ensure that there is local capacity for maintenance work. Water committees have been set up for each of the wells and follow-up support is given regarding the management of the infrastructure to ensure it is sustainably managed.
The target communities are responsible for paying 125,000 Ariary (used for the purchase of gravel, sand and bricks) as well as for providing the water required during the work. This is to build a sense of responsibility and ownership of the infrastructure.
Each community has also signed agreements attesting to abide by the rules that must be respected to prevent water contamination, notably: - that no latrine will be built within a distance of 20m around the well - that no animal pen will be erected within a distance of 20m around the well - that a fence will be put up around the well. The owners of the land where the wells are put in place also signed letters confirming their donation of the land for the community’s use.
Each well will have a water quality test carried out (using the Delagua kit) once the series of chlorination treatments have been completed.
Money raised through fresh2o will continue to be placed into the maintenance of current water and sanitation schemes, as well as developing educational programmes. The creation of future water proects will be established by process of consultation as fresh2o builds on current relationships and inaugurates future ones with sponsors and partners in the field of fresh water and sanitation.
Quotes from some of the people you’ve helped:
Rasoa in Andoharano village: “Having this clean water supply means everything to us. Before we fetched water from an open canal running down the hillside. We know it’s dirty but we had no choice. Our children often suffered from diarrhoea. We are so happy to have this well, thank you so much for your help”.
RaThérèse in Tanamarina village: “Working on this well has strengthened village solidarity. I’m sure that our water committee will be strong and sustainable, and this well will bring good luck to us for the future”.
