A community school for all (children) in Fiarenana

As a reminder: the two Zahana schools were built with the community about ten years ago, one in Fiadanana (translated: ‘where there is peace’) and the other Fiarenana (translated: ‘here we recover’).

The two schools are about 5 kilometers apart from each other. They had a single, modest objective: to provide free education to young children from the two villages. In exchange for sending their children to our schools the parents participate as members in an environmental conservation program consisting of sustained reforestation, the adoption of organic charcoal and the use of improved stoves in their homes.

The age of our students can vary greatly and sometimes exceed 16 years of age or be as young as five years old. This is due to the delay in schooling and often influenced by the possibilities and needs of the parents.

The important focus is that our students get a good basic training and succeed in reading, writing and counting/calculating. Above all this basic education is crucial by empowering them in signing any document after having read and understood the instructions and implications. Far too often in the past people have put their thumbprint on documents (in lieu of a signature) without knowing what they were actually signing. Having the option to ask their kids for help in understanding what they are signing, shows the power and value of education.

At the request of parents, the two schools began to adopt the official school curriculum. This is in addition to our Zahana activities aimed at addressing the harsh conditions of life in rural areas, for example by teaching reforestation, making of improved cookstoves, gardening or making handmade soap.

• To stimulate school attendance and move forward, Zahana plans for the 2024-2025 school year in September to provide the 200 students with school uniforms and work coats for the 5 teachers.
• As a bonus, 200 pairs of sandals will be distributed to the children.
• New approach to set up an improved and bigger vegetable garden project by and for the two Zahana schools is aimed at strengthening the food security of our students, and familiarizing students with a diversified agricultural culture acquired from a young age.
• Organization of a school fair to sell some of the products from the vegetable gardens. 

We know this project is huge. Your donations also help in providing essential schools supplies such as, chairs, tables, notebooks, pencils, erasers, and pens for the new school year.