A community school for all (children) in Fiarenana

Not all reports are upbeat (this is to warn those of you who have been requesting advance notice for reports like these). We had been contemplating for a while if we should share this report from Madagascar, but it is a sad part of our reality as well, especially when it is one of our key community members:

"I got back yesterday and the bad news we learnt about returning made us deeply sad. The dad of our ‘boys’ Donné and Doré (water police*) passed away last Thursday. He walked to town to see his sons using ‘the shortcut’ to bring a bag of rice. He had hoped to get back home the same day as one way, using the shortcut, takes less than 2 hours. On his way back, too late in the day, at nightfall he missed a ravine and fall down. People from Fiadanana were worries when he did not return home and they went looking for him.  Unfortunately when he was found, he was already dead at the bottom of the ravine. He passed away all alone, without any help.

When you look at the photos you can see that he (in the middle) was very proud of his 2 sons and in the firm believe that that they are in the way to success. At the time he did not realize that passing that BEPC is just the beginning of a long road of study ahead from them."

* ‘water police’ was a well meant nickname given to him by the community, because almost 10 years ago he took it upon himself to walk the 2.5 km or 1.5 miles along the pipes of the communal water system almost every day to make sure that we are no leaks, obstructions or problems.