Improving children's health and education

In Madagascar, over 70% of children live in poverty and thousands die from preventable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) related illnesses each year. Many schools have insufficient or non-existent WASH facilities, contributing to poor school attendance, with only 32% of children finishing primary school.

In Madagascar’s rural Anosy region, Vatambe Primary School and Mahatalaky Lower Secondary School were faced with insufficient WASH and education infrastructure, impeding students from attending full-day classes and from practicing proper handwashing and menstrual hygiene management. SEED addressed these issues through our WASH in Schools project.

Completed in time for the new school year, SEED repaired and constructed a total of thirteen latrines, four handwashing stations, and two menstrual hygiene management facilities across both schools. Additionally, one rainwater harvesting system was installed at each school to provide students, teachers, and their local communities with clean drinking water. SEED built three primary school classrooms in Vatambe, enabling students to attend full days of school. In total, the project has provided 773 students and 28 teachers across both schools with vital WASH facilities and high-quality education infrastructure.

The handover ceremony for Vatambe Primary School was held in June 2021, when the responsibility for maintaining the school and equipment was formally transferred to the community. The  community blessed the new building before its opening and celebrated with a traditional Zebu sacrificial ceremony. The keys to Mahatalaky Lower Secondary School were handed over to the Headmaster in July 2021. The teachers and students at both schools are excited to start off the school year with the new and improved education and WASH infrastructure.

Links:

• https://madagascar.co.uk/projects/education-infrastructure