Improving children's health and education

Madagascar’s rural Anosy region is under-resourced and school attendance is low. Insufficient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities contributes to transmission of diseases and exacerbates absenteeism among female students who cannot access Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) facilities. Through Programme Sekoly, construction is underway for education infrastructure and WASH facilities for 129 students and six teachers at Beraketa primary school, and 726 students and 27 teachers at Sarisambo primary and lower secondary schools.

SEED is excited to give new updates from these two latest construction projects as multiple project milestones have been accomplished. They include completion of the roof repair at Sarisambo primary school, delivery of 70 out of 100 desk benches which are already in use, and completion of five gender segregated ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrines. At Sarisambo Lower secondary, the 3 room classroom has been erected with the roofing completed. Windows and doors are currently under installation, and painting will be completed later in 2023. One of the two latrine blocks at Lower secondary is complete, and the other block is ongoing. The 10,000 litre water harvesting systems have been installed at both primary and Lower secondary sites which will provide water at the hand washing stations, the MHM facilities, and provide safe drinking water for all students and teachers.

At Beraketa primary school, construction of three new classrooms and four gender segregated VIP latrines is also underway. At both Beraketa and Sarisambo schools, the teacher accommodation construction plans are being developed.  These will enhance school management, provide additional security for the school, and support teacher livelihood. SEED has trained school staff and community members to deliver WASH education lessons at the schools to ensure sustainable and autonomous maintenance of the facilities. 

SEED looks forward to sharing more exciting stories from project Sekoly, and the transformations happening in rural Madagascar. Thank you for your support!