Earlier this year, we reported on three new sustainability projects in Madagascar that were specifically chosen to improve the lives of vanilla farmers and the families we source our beans from. These projects focused on providing increased access to clean water and education.
During our team’s recent trip to Madagascar, they visited some of the sustainability projects to view the progress. We are happy to report that in less than a year, some of the projects have already been completed, and the others are on track to be finished by spring 2020.
Since the team’s visit, our partners have continued to provide updates, which we outline in more detail below. Stay tuned for a full report on this year’s initiatives’ impact and our new goals for 2020 in our annual sustainability report, which will be published mid-2020.
Andranovato: Clean Water Project Finishes Ahead of Schedule
Earlier this year, we partnered with one of our suppliers on a clean water project to construct a new water well and latrine system to serve the 575 residents of Andranovato – the village that supplies many of our organic vanilla beans. Until now, this community’s only source of water was from an open pit that was subject to frequent contamination.
With the completion of the project in July, residents can now get clean water from a secure, covered well. Our partners have already reported an improvement in residents’ health as a result. Additionally, four latrines were built near a primary school, just in time for the start of the new school year. Students now have a sanitary place to use the bathroom while in school, which we hope will improve the children’s overall health and school attendance rates.
Ampohibe: Clean Water Project Reaches its First Milestone
We are currently working with one of our local suppliers to finalize the development of a sophisticated water network project to deliver clean water to 3,300 residents in the village of Ampohibe. The water network will use a centrally located, solar-powered water pump that is housed in a purpose-built tower. The water will be piped from this tower to 10 access points throughout the village, with a total piping length of 1,774 meters.
With an impressive design and masterful build, this project is on track to be completed in spring 2020. When the construction is nearly complete, students from a technical high school in nearby Sambava will visit Ampohibe to build and install the water points and solar panels, giving them hands-on experience with the subjects they are learning. Finally, the village will elect a management committee to handle maintenance, whose members will be trained by an NGO partner on how to maintain and repair the system.
Ambohitsara: New Primary School is Near Completion
At the request of the Ambohitsara vanilla farmers’ cooperative, we are supporting the construction of a new primary school to replace the building that was badly damaged by a recent cyclone. The new building will be able to withstand extreme weather more easily.
Today, the school is near completion with furniture and blackboards ready to be installed. We hope to see the project completed soon and look forward to hearing that the 82 primary school students have a safe and dignified place to learn.
Looking ahead to 2020, we are beginning to collaborate with our partners on new projects in additional villages where we source vanilla. We invite you to visit our website in the summer to view our next sustainability report, which will give more details on these projects. Better yet, subscribe to our Vanilla Vine newsletter to be alerted when it’s published as well as receive all the latest news from Nielsen-Massey Vanillas.
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