Madagascar: one year on: A story of determination

Antoebe Primary School One Year After Cyclone Batsirai

Feedback Madagascar has worked with the community of Antoebe, near the forest in the Ambohimahamasina municipality, for 3 years. Together we have made agricultural improvements, dug a clean water borehole, set up the school canteen and, all the while, increased the capacity of the community to realise their own projects.

Until recently the primary school had just one classroom for over 90 pupils.  At the end of 2021, parents and teachers  decided to build an additional school building, with two classrooms, so all students could be taught properly at the same time. The work was almost finished in February 2022 when Cyclone Batsirai hit, destroying the new school building, causing devastation and shattering livelihoods. 

February 2022. The nearly completed new school destroyed by Cyclone Batsirai.

February 2023. The completed new school, built by the parents with Feedback Madagascar support

Children in Antoebe playing after school

Undeterred, the parents decided to start again but lacked funds for materials. The community asked Feedback Madagascar for help to pay for roofing sheets, fixings and cement. Now, the rebuild is totally finished and the new building is bringing dry, quiet, safe, focused, full-time education to the 90 children. All thanks to the fortitude of the parents, the partnership with Feedback Madagascar and the generosity of our donors.