Madagascar: Vanilla village development
Education, food security and healthcare improvement for vanilla growing villages.
Madagascar is home to most of the world’s production of vanilla beans. This activity relies on thousands of small producers who are the guardians of the tradition and of a unique know-how. Our efforts in the Sava region have reached over 25,000 beneficiaries across 32 villages through a rural development program that addresses various aspects such as education, food security, health, and the promotion of alternative income-generating activities. The foundation has contributed to the construction and repair of 30 schools in the region, benefiting more than 5,000 schoolchildren. Villagers recognize and value the importance of educating their youth for the future of their communities, and many have volunteered to participate in building schools for their children.
Additionally, another objective of the program is to reduce health risks. A significant proportion of illnesses in the villages are due to unsafe drinking water and poor hygiene practices. Therefore, to provide more people with access to safe drinking water, over 100 wells have been constructed or restored as part of the program.
“Before, because our water source was surface water, villagers suffered from diseases such as bilharzia. the construction of water wells which mitigated the spread of disease and improved the health of villagers.”
Perlette, villager and president of the wells management committee
Many remote communities in the area are under served by public health care services. We established two health centers that provide primary care services to over 9,000 individuals. Each center is equipped with potable water, electricity, and medical equipment. In collaboration with health authorities, these facilities receive ongoing support and oversight to ensure accessible and safe healthcare in the long run.
In parallel, as part of our efforts to improve environmental sustainability, we supported the provision of of 4,000 energy-efficient cooking stoves for vanilla farmers households, environmental education in 10 schools, and the establishment of energy-efficient institutional kitchens in 2 schools.
"One of the main advantages of using the energy-saving cook stove is the wood savings. Additionally, it is easy to clean the pots, as it produces little smoke, preventing them from getting blackened and making cleaning difficult. The speed of cooking is also appreciated, especially when I have visitors. I really enjoy cooking with this stove compared to the traditional stoves."
Serge, vanilla farmer
