How to get to Lamboara school…

On day two we have two schools to visit.  To reach Ankotapiky we drive though spiny forest (euphorbia), mangrove swamps, and arid plains. In the rainy season there’s lots of flooding on this road rendering it impassable so people are cut off.

Janet doing the honours; the spiny forest and the mangrove swamp – the red vegetation is edible

The school is small, with only three classes.  The teachers are dedicated, and the kindergarten kids are dancing to music while the teacher entertains them with puppets. There are few textbooks but there are exercise books.  Numbers in French are being taught with coloured crayons. It’s amazing what you can do with no text books, some props, a blackboard and a class teacher. What they lack in training –  the majority only having only completed baccalaureate – they make up for in dedication.

The kindergarten kids are delightful – loved singing and dancing. And learning to count with crayons! the older pupils are studious! And the head teacher is thrilled with his gifts.

More baobabs on our travels on day 2

Having seen the roads, we understand how school supplies are problematic. Firstly, because of the risk of theft (yes I’m afraid it happens) UWS insists that a team member is present to count the deliveries in and out; it’s more difficult with building supplies, which have to be either ox-carted to the schools, or sailed up from Toliara, and then offloaded into a pirogue before being delivered. Only recently a boatman overloaded his boat and 50 bags of cement went down. It’s a fine line, well managed by Karine, of working with the community while threatening them with withdrawal when supplies disappear. Mysteriously problems seem to get solved…iron fist in velvet glove stuff.

Stephen entertaining the kids who reward us with beaming smiles. This young teacher is a wonderful example of the dedication of our staff.

We have lunch in Andavadoaka at the CRP (Centre de Ressource et Pedagogie). Most of the UWS team is here doing training, some even from Tana where there is a small head office, and Toliara. They are an enthusiastic and dedicated bunch, some speaking excellent English. It amazes me how altruistic young people are in countries like Madagascar, because this has to be the harshest environment to live in, especially if you come from a middle class family in Tana. Another feast – fish and rice, with tomato and onion salad – is such a treat that plates are piled high! It is extremely hot. The builders plough on notwithstanding, shuttering cement for a new netball/football pitch being laid for the trainees. It is hoped we might sub-lease this space as well.

The CRP, with the team lunch and the sports pitch in preparation.

ij the afternoone we et off for Lamboara school, which is on an island, only accessible  by ox-cart and pirogue, and tide-dependent. Gingerly we hop up into the cart which heads straight into the water, and is soon at axle-level and up to the zebus’ haunches. It is agonisingly uncomfortable, jolting and lurching along for an hour before we transfer to a pirogue for the final leg. This is a poor fishing village, and we are amused to meet one of the teachers –  a city slicker it turns out – all in a bright blue, matching football strip. Again – how did he end up here?

Quite an adventure!

Lessons are in full swing, and the kids learning  about birth certificates – in French! Gosh it must be boring, but citizenship is a concept that is part of the curriculum. Abandoning this lesson, we look in an another where the head teacher is trying to teach masculine and feminine in French – but our presence is so intimidating he almost grinds to a halt, hands shaking. We leave him be.

Collecting books for marking; Stephen looking in on a lesson (French grammar not for him!). Hiaro demonstrating the computer to the teacher!

The return journey in the setting sun is quicker as the water level has dropped. Thank goodness. It’s a relief to get back into the vehicles and head off to the charming Laguna Blu Hotel.  My tum has been playing up, whether from malarone or the various feasts, who knows, but I couldn’t  enjoy the lobster dinner and picked at some rice. Later, we decide unilaterally to ditch the drugs as we haven’t seen a mosquito on the whole trip and donate them to Karine to treat people during the rainy season. We enjoy the comfy beds and outdoor shower at Laguna Blu as we prepare for the highpoint of our visit – Louise’s school in Tampalove.

Thanks to Karine and the UWS Madagascar team for hosting us and for arranging such an excellent and organised trip

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