Get a first-hand insight into the situation in Madagascar.
Reported by Patrick, generous sponsor and supporter of Ny Kintana.
Hello everyone,
At Tahina's request, I would like to share my experiences and observations following my visit to the school.
Madame Tahina: please correct me if anything is wrong ;-)
First of all, the journey from Tana to the village is indeed not that easy. It took us almost two hours in a Toyota 4x4. The village is quite remote. I can now better understand why the team on site cannot commute back and forth at will. Everyone does this in their spare time alongside their jobs. Furthermore, only Tahina's husband has a moped. All of this makes transport difficult.
The welcome was sensational. The children welcomed us with dancing and singing and had a lot of fun.
I then visited Tahina, Manampy and Tsanta (my mother's and my godchildren) at their home relatively soon afterwards.
I was particularly moved by the situation of Manampy and her mother. No kitchen, no bed, sleeping on the bare floor, absolutely no furniture, no electricity, no water.
# 1: I wasn't aware of that. Perhaps a short video could be made or photos sent along with a new sponsorship so that sponsors can get an idea of the living conditions. And maybe also a suggestion to not only transfer the EUR 30 but perhaps make additional donations such as solar lamps, books, etc.
# 2: Direct communication with the sponsored children is difficult. Some parents do not have a mobile phone. This could also be a suggestion for sponsors to perhaps spend EUR 17 on a simple mobile phone.
Unfortunately, I couldn't talk much with Manampy and Tsanta. I mistakenly assumed that the children learn a certain level of French at school. Tahina proved me wrong.
But you could organise private lessons or a language teacher for the children (as far as possible). Even if you don't speak French, you can use translation programmes to communicate with the children in writing at least.
Then it was back to school, where the Ny Kintana team had distributed the winter jackets. We ate together in the large room and the children performed various shows. It was here that I realised how important this regular meal service is for the children.
The headmistress, Madame Victorine, is a very impressive woman. I was able to converse with her in French, and she confirmed how happy she is about the support from Ny Kintana. This is indeed very important to her.
After lunch, we visited the well shaft and then met with the teachers in her office.
# 3: We agreed that the main problem and number one priority should be the construction of a well. The current well is bone dry. According to the headmistress, the children have been washing their hands or brushing their teeth twice a week at school. They would not do this at home because the little water they have is too precious for that.
Tahina made it clear that Ny Kintana will contact several companies directly to have the well built. I merely suggested (at Tahina's suggestion) that I could contribute to the project through an organisation in Luxembourg. This was so that the director would not think that Ny Kintana or the Europeans always pay for everything automatically.
# 4: The teachers are motivated. However, they lack teaching materials (they don't even have books for teaching). They would also very much like to have smartphones so that they can do research on the internet.
Tahina and I talked a lot about this. If the teachers are no longer there, the school will close and the project will collapse. In my opinion, this building block of teachers is extremely important and forms the basis for the entire school project. Otherwise, you can provide food for the sponsored children, but without school they have no future.
Perhaps this could be highlighted more on the website? Mobile phones and books could then be secured through one-off donations. The standard at the school seems to be good. I looked at the blackboard in one of the classrooms and didn't understand a thing ;-). That's a high standard.
How can teachers be motivated to continue teaching in this remote village...
Perhaps by providing smartphones. There are some reasonably priced ones in Tana that are quite good. In order not to upset or bypass the headmistress, they could be donated to the school as a donation in kind. Teachers would only be allowed to use the devices while they are working at the school.
My personal conclusion is that this is a wonderful project worthy of support.
However, it seems to me to be a fragile structure, as everything stands or falls with the five teachers. It would be very important to motivate them to stay. From the conversations with them, it really became clear that smartphones and teaching materials would be motivating.
And if even just a few of the sponsored children go on to university and become role models, then the whole thing is worth it.
On a personal note, I would like to say to the Henrichmann family that I admire you greatly. All the work you have put into the website and the official recognition of the association. My deepest respect.
I have already told Tahina that I would like to get involved in whatever way I can. Please do not hesitate to let me know.
I am also very grateful to Tahina and her team for giving me the opportunity to see things for myself on site.
If you have any questions or comments about my report, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Warm regards to you all,
Patrick