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ZARASOA

@zarasoa.madagascar

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Worker-led group building rainwater harvesting systems in #Madagascar 🇲🇬
📍Alakamisy Ambohimaha, Fianarantsoa

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Zarasoa team and co. hangin’ out in one of their finished household rainwater jars on monday 🫙 💧

¿Ahoana ny fandehana?

Tsara be mihintsy!

Our team has been killing it out in Manombo Special Reserve on this project of building 60 household jars alongside builders from @healthinharmonyngo + @rainmadagascar + scientists at @improper.cc 🇲🇬

Incredible to see how knowledge sharing across different regions of madagascar has led to multiple groups of masons and organizations being able to harvest the power of the rain!! ☔️

When we started the Zarasoa project a year ago we got together a team of local builders, teachers, farmers, and anyone else who believed in the vision of learning how to build these jars and just said “we don’t know how to do this - but we’re gonna learn and keep learning!” And we did!

We’ve come a long way since then with having built 8 large systems in Alakamisy (Central Madagascar) and now collabing w other orgs to build 60 small systems on the East Coast (Rainforest near the Coast of Madagascar). 🇲🇬✨

alefa!

#zarasoa #madagascar taken in Manombo Reserve by @zarasoa.madagascar

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2 years ago

Three villages near the protected Manombo forest in Madagascar now have 2000L water tanks to collect clean rainwater!

Community members in Sahamahitsy, Namahora, and Karimbelo highlighted that each of their villages were at risk of drinking contaminated water, and suggested rainwater collection as a solution to this health challenge.

Check out the video for a behind the scenes look at how, with the support of HIH, this community-designed solution was implemented and safe drinking water became accessible in each of these villages.

#CommunityDesign #CommunitySolutions #RainwaterHarvesting #ClimateAction #Manombo by @zarasoa.madagascar

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2 years ago

We’re ready for rainy season!💧

With the help of @snkenkel and friends, the Zarasoa team finished a 20,000L system at Lycee Ambalakely—alefa!

This high school serves 260 students, 63% of which are girls. We planned the build alongside the exuberant Madame Miore, Ambalakely’s principal.

“Misoatra n’y ekipa Zarasoa fa nahazo sinibendrano ny Lycée Ambalakely. Moho ny fanampianaranao, dia hisotro rano madio ny mpiantra rehefa misy orana.”

Project completion date: July 2026 🧱👷🏾‍♀️ by @zarasoa.madagascar

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a month ago

Another #rainwaterharvesting system for the books! 💧

The Zarasoa team just finished their 9th large scale rainwater harvesting system in Fianarantsoa! This project was six 2,000 liter tanks - woohoo! They engineered connections between the tanks to create a total of 12,000 liters of rainwater harvesting capacity. And the finishing touches on these bad boys are just getting better and better. To see more about the design and understand the first flush system (which helps ensure the quality of the water) visit our partner’s @rainmadagascar website. 💧

SEMAFI school is the only one of its kind in this region for children who are deaf and the staff and community here are nothing short of inspiring. Last weekend, SEMAFI teachers and parents helped zarasoa builders move the tanks onto their platforms to finish the project. Many hands help make the load lighter! 🇲🇬

Our projects are continually becoming more and more guided by our team of builders, the local community (especially as they come to see the benefits of rwh) and of course under the visionary direction our incredible project manager, Vonjy Solofandrasana.

alefa! 💥

#zarasoa #madagascar #water #rainwater #rainwaterharvesting taken in Fianarantsoa by @zarasoa.madagascar

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a year ago

In the summer of 2023, members from Duke University’s PlanetLab tested the drinking water sources in a series of villages in Southeastern Madagascar. The results indicated alarmingly high levels of bacterial contamination. To address this problem, we helped facilitate a project between Health In Harmony, Tatirano, Zarasoa, and the PlanetLab to construct rainwater catchment tanks to provide clean, safe drinking water for the people in these villages. by @zarasoa.madagascar

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2 years ago

Zarasoa is excited to share the completion of a rainwater harvesting project in rural villages along the southeastern coast of Madagascar. 🇲🇬

Zarasoa’s team of 7 builders worked alongside team members from @healthinharmony and technicians from @tatirano to build the tanks. In total, 60 rainwater harvesting tanks were constructed - vessels that will be used to collect clean water for drinking, cooking, and daily life.

More than that, our builders brought molds for the household model back to Fianarantsoa so that we can continue to share the knowledge of how to build a rainwater harvester in the Haute Matsiatra region of Madagascar. 🔨🧱

Cheers to the rain and to the people creating ways to harness it for good. 💧

#zarasoa #madagascar by @zarasoa.madagascar

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2 years ago

It’s happening! 🛠️

Zarasoas team of 7 masons landed in Farafangana on Monday to begin our biggest collaborative project to date: Building 60 rainwater harvesters throughout three villages in the rainforest community of Manombo.

This is the first phase of the project - Ryan Parks, PhD from Duke University and a team from HiH and University of Fianarantsoa collected data to understand the quality of the water in Manombos villages. As Ryan stated, “the situation is dire, most water sources in the area are contaminated.”

Our solution?

Harness the power of the rain and work alongside the communities to teach, build, and understand how to install rainwater harvesting systems at the household level.

More updates are coming soon but for now join us in welcoming our team to the East Coast of Madagascar!!! by @zarasoa.madagascar

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2 years ago

Madagascar,

She demands you to arrive ready for anything,

With courage stuffed into your pockets,
And an extra pair of boots
For when it rains.

When it rains,
water drowns out the constant hum of life, the hustle & bustle
of rusted taxis
and busy people.

Madagascar,

Her majesty moves rivers and valleys in one sweep.

- al

🇲🇬🇲🇬🇲🇬

A poem written in honor of @willyhuestis headed to madagasikara today to help with a project in a rainforest community on the East Coast that zarasoa is sending our building team to partake in. A project that we will be posting more about very soon…

¡alefa zarasoa!

📸/ @thibeauxhirsh / Alakamisy Ambohimaha 2024 taken in Alakamisy-Ambohimaha, Fianarantsoa, Madagascar by @zarasoa.madagascar

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2 years ago

Meet Vonjy!

Vonjy is a director at Zarasoa and a project manager: more than that he is the glue that keeps the organization running and brings the team together. His main job is teaching English at the local highschool in Alakamisy Ambohimaha and in his free time he tutors at other schools nearby.

Vonjy first met a Peace Corps volunteer back when he was in college and they became instant friends. Since then he has been a Peace Corps counterpart for over 6 different volunteers and he speaks English, Malagasy, and a little bit of Spanish! Vonjy has a big family and he secretly loves to dance.

Thank you Vonjy for guiding Zarasoa Madagascar ! And thank you to our team member Thibeaux Hirsch for the amazing filming and video production!
🌿🌿🌿🌿🌿
Up next is the description in Malagasy:

Vonjy no mpitantana sy tale ao amin'ny Zarasoa madagasikara, ankotr' izay izy ihany koa no mikaraka ary manao izay hampandeha ny ONG. Mpampianatra teny Anglisy amin'ny lycée ALAKAMISY-AMBOHIMAHA izy, ary mampianatra ao lycée loteriana izy amin'ny fotoana malalaka izay Ananany.
Nihaona voalohany tamin'ny mpilatsaka antsitra-po ny "peace corps" i Vonjy fony izy mbola nianatra teny amin'ny Anjery maontolo ary lasa namana tsy tapaka. Nanomboka teo ka mandraka ankehitriny izy dia efa mpiaramiasa akaiky hoan' na mpilatsaka antsitra-po miisa 6 samihafa. Miteny Malagasy, anglisy, frantsay, ary espagniola kelikely izy! Izy dia maro ny ankohonany .
Misaotra Vonjy amin' ny fitarihana ny Zarasoa Madagasikara! by @zarasoa.madagascar

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2 years ago

🎉 ZARASOA Celebrates a New Milestone: A 10,000-Liter Rainwater Harvesting Tank for Fahizay, Madagascar 🎉

ZARASOA is thrilled to announce the successful completion of a 10,000-liter rainwater harvesting tank in the Ambositra region of Madagascar, nestled within the charming farming community of Fahizay. Known for its vibrant production of the traditional drink, toka, its picturesque rolling hills of rice fields and eucalyptus, and the serene “mora mora” pace of life, Fahizay embodies the spirit of community and tradition. 🌾

When the mayor of Fahizay reached out to our rainwater harvesting project manager, Vonjy Solofodrasana, we were eager to respond. We deployed three of our skilled masons on their first mission outside of Fianarantsoa to collaborate closely with the Fahizay community on constructing the tank. This project was an ideal opportunity for knowledge sharing, fostering community involvement, and utilizing public funds from the municipality. 🇲🇬

The need for this project was clear. The local municipal elementary and middle school, serving over 1,000 students, had long struggled without a reliable water source. With the installation of the rainwater harvesting tank, the school now has a safe and sustainable water supply during Madagascar’s rainy season, essential for everyday needs such as handwashing, cleaning blackboards, preparing cafeteria meals, and brewing tea. 📚

The arrival of the first rains will now bring not only nourishment to the land but also a renewed sense of joy to the students and teachers, knowing that the rainwater will be collected for essential needs. ☔

Read more about the project in the article attached

Alefa Zarasoa! 🇲🇬 #WaterForAll #communityempowerment #rainwaterharvesting #sustainablefuture #cleanwater #madagascarproject by @zarasoa.madagascar

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2 years ago

A Journey Through Water in Manakara.

In the heart of Madagascar, three young souls journey down the river, a path that carries stories and dreams of their community. Captured by our team member, Thibeaux Hirsh, during his travels through Fianarantsoa and Manakara last summer, this image reflects the connection between the people and their environment.

As we embark on our mission to reshape our visual identity and amplify our voice, we’re excited to share a glimpse of what’s to come. From rainwater systems to empowering communities and ideating new projects and collaborations, our journey is just beginning.

Through water, we flow. Through water, we live. We breathe, we feel, and we let the current lead. Water teaches us life’s rhythm, saves bodies, and nourishes lands. Water is essence, a conduit of connection.
Rano ny aina. Water is life.
-Mar

Stay tuned for more as we work to bring sustainable solutions to Madagascar.

#Madagascar #WaterIsLife #CommunityEmpowerment #SustainableFuture #Manakara #RainwaterSystems by @zarasoa.madagascar

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2 years ago

Zarasoa is back at it! 🇲🇬 ⛮ With another project in the works, our team is headed for their fourth completed rainwater harvesting project in Fianarantsoa.

This is our biggest project to date - a 20,000 liter rainwater harvester at the local hospital in Alakamisy, Ambohimaha. The project is anticipated to help cover a majority of the hospital’s water needs and increase access to clean water for sick patients. Our project manager Vonjy visited the director of the hospital and mayor of the town back in the beginning of the month to solidify the project and community need.

We’re able to continue this work due to the generosity of our donors and supporters! Thank you to all of the folks who care about what’s happening at home and across the world. We are excited to continue to nurture Zarasoa and support the local leaders who have championed these projects and advocated for the rights of their communities. To help support Zarasoa you can website our website at zarasoamada.org (http://zarasoamada.org).

#zarasoa #madagascar #community #development #wa
ter #rainwaterharvesting taken in Alakamisy-Ambohimaha, Fianarantsoa, Madagascar by @zarasoa.madagascar

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3 years ago