Going for Gold
Model Community works together to alleviate suffering
Many communities in southeastern Madagascar suffer from the lack of healthcare and education, the proliferation of diseases, few resources for mothers and young children, and a general and pervasive poverty. As a result, the goal of the FIOVANA project is to inspire as many changes for as many people as possible, rather than focusing on one or two development goals for a subset of the population.
These sweeping changes are most apparent among Model Communes: communities that have embraced holistic development for all. Participating communities are recognized for their efforts with a bronze, silver, or gold status, an indicator of how far they have come together.
Andranovolo, a small village along the banks of a wide river, is currently a silver community, and it shows. Unlike neighboring villages in this area, there is no trash on the ground, there are latrines for every home, and the children show no signs of malnutrition.
Julia, a community member and participant of the local Savings and Loan Association, has seen the difference firsthand.
“The project really brought change in the community,” she said. “The word fiovana means change and we have observed that physically, spiritually, and mentally.”
Florent, the head of the village, is proud of his community, and inspired to push even further.
“First is the development of the community,” he said. “Now that we have moved from the old ways to a better and improved status, we want to keep growing and evolving.”
Growing and evolving means graduating from silver status to gold, an achievement that proves the village has implemented all the subcomponents of FIOVANA: disaster risk reduction, health, hygiene, income generating activities, improved agriculture, prevention of early marriage and pregnancy, and much more. It means eradicating abject poverty and developing together as one.
Claire, a local Community Health Volunteer, is one of the women holding her community accountable.
“I am so eager to reach the gold level,” she said. “For us to reach silver, all the members of the community participated. Even the leaders, who gave land to the women to practice farming techniques or helped households build latrines. Everyone played their part because it is important to us. We are making efforts to reach the gold. We all understand we have roles to play to reach this level.”
Though they have not yet reached that final status, Julia is thrilled by their current achievements. She has seen the community work together and pull themselves out of suffering.
“We are happy—really happy,” she said. “There have been many projects in this area, but FIOVANA was the most exceptional because of the way it helped us as individuals and a community. It opened a new vision of a new life.”
