Alpine Initiatives

*AI engages the snow sports community in sustainable initiatives that connect people and planet.

Hope for Madagascar (HFM) and Ambalona’s Community Gardens

  • Location: Ambalona, Madagascar
  • Local Visionary: Fanja Sylvie Rakotonirina
  • Partner Organization: Hope for Madagascar
  • Total Raised: $5,000
  • Partnership Established: 2010 (five year MO)

 

HFM, founded by Fanja Sylvie Rakotonirina was established to promote the reduction of poverty, the improvement of well being and the preservation of the unique biodiversity of Madagascar.

 

By working with communities in the peripheral zones of the remaining rainforests of Madagascar, HFM aims to protect the rain forests of Madagascar through sustainable development, decrease poverty through educational and environmental projects, and provide access to sanitation facilities, clean drinking water and healthy nutrition. HFM also offers a cross-cultural program, Life Experience Exchange Program (LEEP), which allows Malagasy students to travel and discover the richness of their country and gain a greater appreciation for its preservation. After extended dialogues to evaluate the inhabitants’ individual and collective needs, HFM and AI initiated their partnership by strengthening local initiatives and technical capacity in agricultural production and diversity, which will enhance self-reliance.

 

Inspire:

Fanja envisioned a Madagascar that provided equal and measurable benefits to all community members. To begin, Fanja chose Ambalona to become sustainable and maintain balance within their community and ecosystem. There was the possibility within Ambalona for improved management of natural resources and improved access to education concerning these resources. With the concept of “Tranobe” sub-communities still in existence, Ambalona’s social organization is very cohesive, with a need to protect their traditions and well being. It was a perfect place for AI to begin our partnership, as it was one that had the most potential for improvement.

 

Connect:

We conducted an initial site visit in order to develop a better understanding of the environmental, cultural and sociological settings of the project. The focus was on developing contacts made with Hope for Madagascar (HFM) technicians and to initiate relationships with local community representatives. The possibility identified was diversity in crop production and education on how to use these crops. The connection started with 100 packets of organic seeds, some knowledge of permaculture and the entire community’s participation and input. Several demonstration plots were then created following local knowledge and other organic gardening techniques.

 

 Grow:

A recently formed women‘s cooperative took ownership of the project and now cares for the gardens. There have also been partnerships made with Peace Corps Volunteer Regional Coordinator Brittany Priselac, who has offered to assist the village technical advisor Fidi Rajaonarivelo with bi-monthly visits to the village and monitoring of the projects.

 

Villagers from Ambalona and surrounding villages are now growing gardens on their land, and some have also been able to sell excess produce. Fidy and Brittany have shared some of their expertise and have demonstrated techniques to compost and collect seeds. Partnerships have also been made with Engineers without Borders, who financed the installation of two hand pumps for providing potable water in the village. A partnership with Trees, Water & People is being explored to implement the use of fuel-efficient cook stoves in the village.