News Archive 2007

Living Rainforest Exhibition

Feedback Madagascar's educational photo exhibition is displayed as part of Living Rainforest's Mysterious Madagascar Exhibit / Madagascar EAZA Campaign. British actor John Cleese, Patron of the EAZA Madagascar Campaign, states "The EAZA Madagascar Campaign will bring this extraordinary island to millions of visitors throughout the EAZA network, stimulating a positive surge of energy and interest that will generate funds for the vital conservation projects on the island." The exhibition is on display until 31 Dec 2007.

If you are interested in loaning our photographic exhibition for educational purposes please contact our UK administrator, info@feedbackmadagascar.org

Silk Tourism Trails

Tourism is key to the success of the Malagasy silk market and we are working hard to bring the silk projects and tourists together. An important part of this is establishing “tourist trails” that pass through the tapia forest, and allow visitors to see things like orchids, natural dyes, medicinal plants, and, of course, the homes of the wild silk worms.

Feedback supports a cooperative in the village of Soatanana which provides a base for 65 female silk weavers and puts money raised into equipment for the local school. Here, visitors can see every stage of the transformation of leaves into silk into material. Antananarivo-based Ecotour Ltd (ecotour@wanadoo.mg) has worked with us to develop the trail and already sent three groups in 2006, all of whom stayed with the villagers. Now we are looking for more tourism partners and, of course, if any of you want to visit you will be warmly welcomed!

We are the Champions

In October 2006, festivals were held in Vohitsaoka, Miarinarivo and Sendrisoa to celebrate the end of the first “Champion Community” competition. A year previously, communities had set themselves targets in health, environment, good governance and agriculture.

Many of their targets had been exceeded, especially in family and reproductive health. All three communities made great progress this year, two of them even getting maximum scores in reaching their targets, but there is still a lot of work to do, particularly in areas like fire prevention. We hope to build on these successes in the next phase of the programme which started in 2007 and expands into 4 new rural communities, 3 of which are very remote.

Room for Improvement

Two classrooms funded by the Small Grants Scheme of the ex-British Embassy in Madagascar were opened in December 2006 in the rural community of Ambolomadinika. The new classrooms were greatly welcomed by both the staff and pupils at the school who had been holding lessons in old dilapidated buildings, one of which was recently destroyed by bad weather. The inauguration of the new classrooms was attended by the local authorities, and celebrations included the kings' traditional sacrifice of a zebu to bless the new building.

Wicker Women go to Market

The wicker baskets, placemats, hats and other products made by the women of Ambohimahamasina continue to improve and have already attracted the interest of two companies. Their products are on sale in a craft boutique in Fianarantsoa town. They have also started to work with a fair trade company, which sells to outlets in Madagascar and abroad.

Water Wedding Gift

During October and November 2006, Kazuko constructed a water supply system in Miarinarivo. This project was the “alternative wedding present” for Tara and Alex Nairn, a British couple, who, with the help of their wedding guests, raised a staggering £12,344.. Tara and Alex came out to Madagascar in October to assist with the water project, living in the village while the work was being carried out. This was an extremely generous donation and our thanks go out to Tara, Alex and all their friends whose fundraising efforts and generosity made this project possible.

Money Honey

The first harvest has just finished for our 50 beekeepers in Ambohimahamasina; marketing has now begun of their products and it is
hoped that the honey will soon be on sale in shops in Fianarantsoa.

News Archive

2006 News archive

2005 News archive