I Have just returned to Antananarivo after three days staying in Andranosoa, the site of our School Building Project.
Here are some photos with a commentary from my time in the village:
Andranosoa is a large village with a population of 1,300, 425 of whom are children under the age of 16.
The majority of people life in 2-storey traditional mud and wood houses, typical of the local Merina tribe. Although a lot of houses have now got an electricity supply, they only use it for lighting. Water comes from communal taps fed from a local reservoir and all toilets are outside. Cooking is done inside the house using charcoal stoves.
Most of the villagers are farmers with rice and zebu the main produce.
The principal purpose of the trip was to oversee the start of building work on the site of the new school. After meeting the Mayor and President of the village on Tuesday, they gave the go-ahead for work to start on Wednesday. Over 50 local men turned up to start digging the foundations.
Today (Thursday) saw the official ceremony of the laying of the first stones with the Mayor, President and Roland (Project Manager).