Improved cookstoves prevent deforestation

The last site visit for 2025 carried out in December in our community site consisted of various tasks, also focusing on a routine follow-up on all ongoing activities. Here are some highlights in detail:

• An active reforestation action as it is the planting season and reforestation has become an integral part of our Christmas celebrations every year.
• The Christmas festivities in the school grounds.
• Our the first official meeting of the local team with the newly elected mayor of Bevato to outline the association's projects in his constituency.
• Finally, monitoring the progress of construction work on the new medical clinic in Bevato, for which ZAHANA contributed significantly in obtain the funding (separate report coming).

As for the Christmas celebrations, they took place, as has become a tradition, in our school grounds. It is a good space large enough to accommodate so many people and the trees provide much needed shade. The enthusiasm and jubilation were joyious, thanks to the distribution of clothing, cookies, and food packages received from donors for school children and some children from needy families. The festivities with Christmas carols and skits concluded with a simple meal for everyone, including children, parents, and members of Zahana

The main outcomes of the site visit included, in terms of reforestation, the planting of 200 eucalyptus, acacia, bibasse, and coffee trees, and other species. Students from the two ZAHANA schools used the seed-ball technique, which involves throwing about a hundred balls of soil filled with plant seeds onto pre-selected reforestation areas (see video).

The experiment with seedballs was repeated because it had already proven successful in the recent years. Two new processes (Zahanas green approach and the fox hole technique) were also tested on a trial basis and will be the subject of a detailed report at a later date.

It is worth noting the importance of the presence of the Mayor of Bevato and his wife at this Christmas meal offered by the Zahana Association.

Even more important was the mayor's participation in discussions about Zahana's activities, including rural microcredit and the training that goes with it. He expressed a keen interest in leaning form our microcredit experiences. Having a chance to see it in the village first hand (e.g. ducks) gave him a good introduction in our approach. 

He also visited the location and learned about the concept of our rural university, which is increasingly taking shape thanks to the various conferences and training courses it offers. Last but not least the opportunities provided by the internet, the only minor obstacle being connectivity in a region where sunshine and access to solar power will enable farmers to no longer be forgotten in the march of history!

However, in the immediate term, the need for more structured training for the members of the leaders' committee has become obvious. It will be established with terms of reference that specify their rights and obligations. The mayor will participate in the leaders' committee meetings in the future.

The last major part of the site visit was to monitor the construction of the new medical clinic in Bevato, for which the mayor is the primary local manager from the start of construction, together with the Zahana Association and building technicians from both sides. In addition to the monthly visits made by members of the association, the building technicians will conduct weekly reviews on site or remotely.

Zahana Association wishes you a HAPPY HOLIDAY AND NEW YEAR SEASON

Links:

• Improved Cookstoves in Madagascar build in and by the community

Bio-charcoal as a fuel source for cooking has been the dream of Richard, the late inventor of the original improved cookstove model promoted by Zahana since 2019. His goal was to not use firewood for cooking anymore. 
 
Some people, like our midwife, use it for all the cooking needs. Her husband makes bio-charcoal as a fuel source they use every day. Some innovative individuals have made a business out of it and are selling bio-charcoal briquettes for cash income (see prior reports). In the meantime, the list of excuses, why others may not be making or using bio-charcoal is long, because change takes time. 
 
To address this issue proactively, after discussions with the teachers and the parents’ association we decided to start early. Literally. Why not make it fun and let the students do it? 

We made making bio-charcoal part of the curriculum. It involves water, creating a slush of charcoal with many little hands, than can be used in the hand powered machine (developed by Matosela, see website) to make bio-charcoal briquettes. 

The sms/text from the teacher says it all: “The production of bio-charcoal has been a great success: the students have mastered the technique and demonstrated it.”

Links:

• Innovative invention to produce more bio-charcoal