ECOLES DU MONDE
Besely – Majunga region – Madagascar
DESCRIPTION
CONSTRUCTION OF A VOCATIONAL SCHOOL IN THE BUSH IN BESELY, MADAGASCAR
Ecoles du Monde was created in 1997 by Charles Gassot, a film producer, following a shoot in Madagascar during which he was confronted with the terrible poverty of this country whose bush inhabitants are totally destitute and abandoned by all.
The objective of Ecoles du Monde is to settle the villagers on their original lands in order to slow down the exodus of the population towards the mirage that is the capital. To do this, the NGO works in three areas: education, development aid, reforestation and maintenance of biodiversity. Since its creation, Ecoles du Monde has built 15 primary schools in the bush, in the North West of Madagascar in the region of Majunga, dug more than 150 wells and planted more than 300,000 trees. On the Besely site, the most recent one, Ecoles du Monde is building a vocational school to welcome the children who have completed their education in the primary school.
The Comgest foundation has decided to support the construction of this vocational high school in the bush which will offer interesting professionalization perspectives to the students as well as numerous employment and commercial opportunities in the village of Besely.
IMPACT / MAIN INDICATORS
Objectives:
• After 5 year, a dozen graduates. 100 students at the end of the project (approx 30 students per level)
• Local employment and job creation opportunities (energy, agronomy and agricultural techniques, pharmacology and biochemistry)
• Increased local employment rate
• Creation of local income generating activities
LOCAL
PARTNER
Ecoles du Monde in Besely, Madagascar
Selection
Duration
Project selected in September 2021
Multi-year project: 4 years
Financed
by
The Comgest Foundation
COMMENT FROM THE AMBASSADOR
Wedig von Gaudecker
As the ambassador of this project, I am proud to say that since the initial presentation of the project of a vocational school in Madagascar, notable developments have been made in various aspects of the project. Since late 2022, groundwork for the school’s construction was completed. This phase involved clearing and leveling the land to prepare for the subsequent construction stages.
Starting in April 2023, the construction of key structures commenced, marking a significant stride towards completing the project. The drilling, water tower, restrooms and the care-taker’s house are currently under construction. According to the latest update received from Ecoles du Monde, they are on track to complete the project by the end of October 2023. Indeed, their workforce collaboration is a crucial component of the project’s success, with help from local companies, who have experience in constructing school buildings, which has been pivotal in the project’s execution. Approximately twenty villagers are contributing to various construction sites. Additionally, they are working with TECTRA, an Antananarivobased company, for the drilling project. Furthermore, the involvement of approximately 60 permanent employees, ranging from management to teaching and administrative staff, underscores the broader impact of Ecoles du Monde’s endeavors.
The positive impact of this project extends to 1,800 to 2,200 beneficiaries, including high school students, totaling approximately 90 per year, and other students within the school complex. This number is set to increase, with up to 25 new students each school year.
Upon completion, the vocational school will allow students from diverse backgrounds to have access to quality secondary education that will equip them with the skills needed to excel in their chosen fields.