Gilbert-Ash working to Change the Lives of Children in Madagascar
Tuesday 15th October 2013
Members of AVDPEM* , the Association founded by Mr Jeannot - who proposed and managed the project throughout - arranged a whole programme of events to celebrate, starting with the sacrifice of a zebu and community party and meal the previous evening and a film show and "ball" the evening following the inauguration.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Regional Governor's Secretary General, the Deputy District Commissioner, the Deputy Head of the regional office of the Ministry of Education, two Directors of Regional Development, the Mayor and Village Head - together with a large and vocal crowd of appreciative and grateful villagers and their children.
All those who spoke expressed their appreciation for Gilbert Ash and Adsum's extreme generosity and commented on how attractive the new building is. The Secretary General (and his colleagues, who made a three hour car journey to take part) told the population of Sandrangato how fortunate they were to have a new, cyclone-proof building - unlike so many schools in the District where the villagers had somehow to find the money for expensive repairs virtually every year.
He urged the villagers to take good care of this "precious gift", wished the children every success in their studies, and suggested that if they did well one or more of them might one day become Ministers or even President of the Republic! He added that the new school is without doubt the best in the District!
Together Gilbert Ash and the Adsum Foundation are pleased and proud to have been able to improve conditions for children attending Sandrangato Primary School, and we congratulate all those, particularly the villagers themselves, who had contributed to the successful completion of the project.
The Secretary General then cut the ribbon across the entrance to the new building, unveiled plaques - in English and Malagasy, and led the visitors on a tour of the classrooms before we all sat down to a simple meal of meat and rice prepared by the villagers.
It is hard to exaggerate the importance of the new school and this inauguration to the population of this poor, remote farming community. Over the years other NGOs had visited this and other, nearby dilapidated primary schools and considered paying for new classrooms. But this was the first time there had been any follow-up. For Sandrangato the new building is nothing short of a dream come true - a phrase the Mayor used in his own speech. One consequence of which will be a greater willingness on the part of parents to send their children to be educated.
This is a great occasion, and one we are proud to be a part of.
