Rescue Madagascar 

Rescue Madagascar

This is an amazing project of Mr Peter Pearce and Gosford North Rotary Club. Peter, his daughter Katie, Bob Nelson from Taree North Rotary Club, Sandra and Tony Castley travelled to Madagascar to prepare for this project, which involves the sending of a large container of goods to Madgascar and following this by a team of Rotarians to visit there next June to distribute and assemble the goods.

Earlier this year devastating floods in Southern Madascar, destroyed many villages and farms. Shelterbox was there and installed a 400 tent city to accommodate some 4,000 of the homeless. Latest ShelterBox News

While the ShelterBox people were there, they were asked to please organise some ongoing aid programs to help these people get their lives back as well as to help in other  parts of Southern Madagascar where they are suffering from extreme poverty. So we visited Madagascar in Septmember this year  along with other Rotarians from District 9680 and we set in place plans for our container to be sent in April 2010 and then to be followed by  a team from Sydney to go over in June 2012 to help distribute and assemble the goods and to teach  some vocational skiills such as sewing.  You may want to be part of the project team. More details on this later on.

Tony’s full report on the Rotary projects he visited in Madagascar is now available,  click here for the PDF.

Update 1st April 2012!

The 40’ container for Madagascar Rescue was loaded in Gosford on Tuesday 27th. ( a great day 27/3 , which also happened to be my birthday!)  and for my part I have 15 sewing machines and boxes of fabric and haberdashery all ready to go. * This shipment will arrive in Madagascar in early June and the team from Australia will arrive soon afterward and start distributing these goods to the needy. Half the sewing machine will go down South to Ambovombe  and the half to the Foyer Chrétien des Jeunes Filles in Antananarivo the capital in the North.  Then a Sewaid team of teachers will arrive at the school late June to install the machines and hold a course of instruction on advanced sewing techniques  for the teachers at the school.
More details www.sewaid.com

Here are some photos of the machines that were loaded for transport

   

 
June visit program

This is the day to day program for the June Visit

Friday 8th June
Leave Mauritius Arrive Antananarivo Meet Antananarivo Rotary Relaxing social day
We, 10 Rotarians/partners, all volunteers, all paying their own way, (4 married couples & 2 single men, sharing) arrive in Antananarivo @ 1325 fresh after spending two relaxing days & nights in Mauritius..
Meet up with members of the Rotary Club of Antananarivo
Locate our accommodation, settle in & have a meal with our Rotary friends
Keep your eye on your mobile phone here, just ask Katie. Good idea to have Beatrice with you at all times as your security guard! The young man who stole (tried to) Katie’s phone wishes we left Beatrice at home!
Stay in Antananarivo tonight (Yet to speak to Beatrice about this) Possibly, stay at Lovasoa Guest House, Jasmin Hotel/Restaurant, Beatrice's home? Beatrice to arrange please.

Saturday 9th June
Early start today Operational day Field work re water unit Many meetings (Soccer)
Meet with BNGRC to discuss operational plans/logistics. Trucks & four wheeled drives to be made ready
View location of our proposed water filtration site (This should have been located/researched by President Elect Rotarian Liva Randriamboavonjy. As discussed with Liva on our previous visit, he & his club will ensure all is arranged & in readiness for the installation of our water units planned to be installed after we return from our journey to Antananarivo from southern areas) View Rotary clubs plans to administer/supervise overall ‘stewardship’ of water project, refine as required
Make prior arrangements by email to have AJESAJA soccer representative Jose Rajaona & Bob Randriambololona from Antananarivo Rotary Club, meet with us to discuss plans for the collection/distribution of soccer gear presently held in our shipping container located in Toliara
Another meal with our friends in the evening, maybe enjoy some Zebu!
Prepare for early start tomorrow
Stay in Antananarivo tonight, same as last night? Beatrice to arrange please.

Sunday 10th June
Early start today. Road travel all day - tarmac road all way.
The journey south today will probably take 14 hours. In past visits we have done the whole trip to Toliara in one day, however, for this trip two days would probably be safer, more appropriate & comfortable.
Stay in a hotel in Ambalavao or similar tonight? BNGRC to kindly arrange accommodation.


Monday 11th June
Travel to Toliara Meet with Rotary & Customs Organise tomorrow
Arrive in Toliara at around noon?
Make prior arrangements by email to meet up with Rotary President Rudy, Nrianja & other friends from the Rotary Club of Toliara
Visit & inform the proposed recipients as to our plans of distribution. Personally visit the Toliara Hospital, Nathanael Orphanage, and select some schools for our satchels. Soccer Federation in Toliara (These recipients should already be determined & notified by BNGRC & Toliara Rotary of our arrival & of our distribution plans)
In company with our consignee BNGRC, we need to attend to all customs requirements. View container & make arrangements to unload tomorrow. BNGRC would have already notified customs of our arrival & of our unloading, transportation plans/requirements, also our need to lay out clothing etc. on concrete while we sort
Team now ready to take a chariot ride around the town, plenty of ‘manpower’ here!
Plenty of little toy Lemurs to purchase here (just ask Bob Nelson), straight to the pool room!
Check out the hygienic butcher shops!
Enjoy a meal tonight with our new Rotary friends from Toliara, time for Miha to show you his karaoke skills!
Hotel is right on water’s edge & only minutes from port that houses our container
Early night as really big day tomorrow.
Stay in Toliara tonight, Rotary Toliara home host or hotel Rotary Club of Toliara or BNGRC to arrange

Tuesday 12th June
Big day today Unload container Reload into BNGRC trucks Distribute to recipients in Toliara
Enlist manpower to unload, sort goods into areas of distribution. Reload on to BNGRC trucks ready to commence our travel towards Androy region tomorrow.
We would please request and expect that the visiting Rotarians, “incountry” Rotarians, BNGRC, AJESAJA, our 'paid labour’, locals, & all recipients of our goods should all be active in providing necessary assistance
It will take all day today to unload container, place items on the ground, repack clothes into BNGRC sacks, sort into areas of distribution, load goods into BNGRC trucks into the order & areas of distribution
Our friends from AJESAJA Soccer will be asked to load most of the soccer gear into their own truck & transport back to Antananarivo where it will be held in secure storage until we return to Antananarivo from our journey (Sewaid items, water units & tower structures also need to go back to Antananarivo)
Prepare to leave early tomorrow, maybe more of Miha’s Karaoke? Miha is very good, got video to prove it!
Stay in Toliara tonight, Rotary home host or hotel Rotary Club of Toliara or BNGRC to arrange please

Wednesday 13th June
Early start. Mostly dirt road today. Great touristy things to see. Travel all day.
Leave Toliara early today, by tarmac road to Tongobory for breakfast.
Continue on & join the dirt road for many miles, travelling through the Androy Region & remote villages including Betoiky & Ejfda, the ‘October Team’ called into these villages & discussed need, including areas of distribution & recipients. Peter our photographer will be kept very busy today!
A long day today on the road which could necessitate arriving late at Ampanihy. Can we call into the rum distillery today Miha? Ravo wants a smell!!
Distribution of some of our items will be carried out here in Ampanihy tomorrow.
Opportunity to buy some great ‘local items’ for the poolroom sold here at the hotel tonight!
Stay overnight in Ampanihy, nice cabins, hotel rooms (if same as our October trip) BNGRC to arrange pls.

Thursday 14th June
Distribute clothes, books, some soccer gear Nice hotel to have evening meal & social
We previously met with representatives of Football League, some soccer gear needs to be distributed here
We also met with the sisters responsible for the orphanage, some clothing needs to be distributed here
Distribute satchels in schools
Again, stay overnight in Ampanihy, same as last night BNGRC to arrange please

Friday 15th June
Travel to remote villages. Distribute Items. Plenty of interesting sights, Baobab Trees etc. 
Leave Ampanihy & travel to various villages including Tranoroa, Tsihombe & on to Ambovombe distributing items to recipients that have already been identified by BNGRC
Arrival late into Ambovombe.
Stay overnight in Ambovombe, hotel, (where we stayed twice before) BNGRC to arrange please, (tent may be erected in secure courtyard of hotel where we previously stayed, if no other room available?)

Saturday 16th June
Travel & distribute in local villages Visit & distribute at Shelterbox camp, Sarimonto
Distribution to various areas in need in this area, require Colonel Miha & Colonel Elack to guide us on areas & recipients most needy
Deliver books to our contact in readiness to the commencement of a proposed library
Meet with our friend Bernadette who has just given birth to baby Peter. We will celebrate the birth & give her a package we have prepared for her. Opportunity to buy those knives & spears for the poolroom!
Visit schools to donate our many satchels. Visit hospitals to donate more blankets to patients
Stay overnight in Ambovombe, same as last night BNGRC to arrange please


Sunday 17th June
Travel to villages Distribute goods Same as yesterday
Distribution of our remaining container items
BNGRC trucks may want to return home, calling in to collect & take back our water unit & Sewaid items if still in Toliara.
‘Team’ may have time to visit Wildlife Park, believe we need permission, may not be right day?
Stay overnight in Ambovombe, same as last two nights BNGRC to arrange please

Monday 18th June
Travel all day Very rough slow trip
Start to travel back to Antananarivo. Different road than arrival. Road very bad, very slow
Be aware our BNGRC friends may decide to take back a few sheep/goats/chickens/ducks in our vehicles!!
Stay overnight in hotel in Isoanaca? or similar? BNGRC to arrange please

Tuesday 19th June
Travel most of day Some dirt although most tarmac road today
Continue our journey back to Antananarivo
Breakfast/lunch @ great bakery/restaurant in Fianarantsoa
Team will be very weary as we will arrive into Antananarivo quite late?
Stay overnight Antananarivo, same accommodation as before? Beatrice to arrange please

Wednesday 20th June
Debrief re our trip Meetings Water Project Soccer Federation Lemur Park Visit
Arrange to continue with our water project.
Meet with AJESAIA Soccer, view our soccer gear in warehouse & discuss/advise distribution plans
Pay visit to Lemur Park which is close to Beatrice’s house
Treat all our ‘hosts’ to a great meal, maybe at the French Restaurant in town?
Overnight in Antanarivo, same accommodation as before? Beatrice to arrange please

Thursday 21st June
Water Project Completion Locate ‘in country’ Water Tower Manufacturer Social Evening
Arrange to complete the installation of our water unit. Meet with necessary local officials
Form ‘incountry’ water project committee for future involvement, (committee not necessarily all Rotarian)
Search for water tower manufacturing company within Antananarivo; explore possibility/suitability of ‘Chep’ pallet shelving
Have a great final night in Antananarivo, maybe visiting a live show or similar (if there is such a thing!)
Overnight in Antananarivo, same accommodation as before? Beatrice to arrange please

Friday 22nd June
Attend to final business Prepare to leave
Say goodbye to our wonderful hosts & new friends
Arrive at Antananarivo airport @ noon? ready for another four days & nights in Mauritius filled with great sunbaking, drinking (men) & shopping (women) & the opportunity to celebrate a ‘job well done’
Overnight in Mauritius Peter to relax now Over to you David!





ACCOMMODATION
Antananarivo 5 Nights 8/6 9/6 19/6 20/6 21/6 Beatrice to arrange/book please
Ambalavao 1 Night 10/6 BNGRC to arrange/book please
Toliara 2 Nights 11/6 12/6 Rotary/BNGRC to arrange/book pls
Ampanihy 2 Nights 13/6 14/6 BNGRC to arrange/book please
Ambovombe 3 Nights 15/6 16/6 17/6 BNGRC to arrange/book please
Isoanaca I Night 18/6 BNGRC to arrange/book please
Total 14 Nights

Items in Our Container for Distribution
• 5,000 new ‘collarless’ tee shirts & other new items of clothing (still individually wrapped), recipients to be determined by Rotary & BNGRC
• Approx 20,000 various ‘pre- loved ‘clothing items being shipped in approx 15 large wool bales. Original idea was to repack into smaller BNGRC bags at the port of Toliara so as to make it easier & more equitable at distribution point/villages. On consideration, it could be decided just to leave clothes in wool bales & transport, as is, to villages selected & allow them to sort after we leave, this would certainly make it easier at ‘the port’. I also believe that these ‘bales’ only contain clothes, are very soft & would sit very well on the roof of the four wheeled drives, therefore, maybe, we need only two ten ton trucks instead of the suggested five
• 1,000 ‘very special’ new woollen handmade blankets that are to be distributed as we progress on our journey to individuals/families that our Rotarian ladies identify as ‘in need’ recipients
• Some teams of soccer gear distributed along our journey to the BNGRC/Rotary pre-determined Soccer Associations. Majority of soccer gear (approx. 200 full teams = 4,200 items) will be forwarded by AJESAIA from Toliara to Antananarivo for future sorting & distribution by AJESAIA & Rotary
• 500 pairs of cancer approved sunglasses to elderly, distribute as we progress
• 300 School satchels that will be donated to various schools, orphanages along our way, recipients will be pre-determined by BNGRC/Rotary
• Approx. 7,000 general (all subjects) books (all packed in boxes) to be donated to Dominique? our contact in Ambovombe to commence establishment of proposed library. Another of our contacts Hoda Zavandro from USA (443-858-4851) will be back in Abovombe in June & will also assist with computer needs.
We have six boxes of great books specifically for children. Boxes of children’s books may be distributed to schools as we progress on our journey, or as nominated by BNGRC/Rotary
• Water filtration units, complete with dismantled ‘prefabricated’ towers & various/necessary installation parts. These units are to be taken to Antananarivo & held in storage by the Rotary Club until areas of location, ‘stewardship & ownership’ plan is drafted/ determined by Rotary & BNGRC
• Various items of medical equipment, being, Portable Ultrasound Scanner, Electrocardiograph, Foetal Heart Monitor, Finger Oximeter. The visiting team will bring these items into Madagascar in their airline luggage; these items will be donated to hospitals as determined by BNGRC/Rotary.
Although disappointing & promising that they would, we have not heard back from Toliara Hospital where we donated medical items on our last trip re needing more assistance, perhaps we donate to another hospital this time?
• Other medical items, including hospital gowns, uniforms, blankets, towels, lots of baby clothes, antiseptic creams, bandages, swabs etc. will be donated to a hospital nominated by BNGRC, maybe in Ambovombe?
• School/classroom microscopes will be donated to a high school nominated by BNGRC
• 300 complete ‘pre-loved’ school uniforms will be donated to school/s nominated by BNGRC/Rotary
(The donating school in Australia is keen to form a ‘relationship’ with the recipient school in Madagascar. The donating school would like to be involved in sponsorship, future book needs, exchange of photographs, information & friendships may be nurtured between the two schools in the future)
• Many ‘Sewaid’ project sewing machines & materials will be transported back to Antananarivo for use towards a project undertaken & in control of Beatrice from the Rotary Club of Antananarivo. Surplus machines & associated material/equipment will be transported to Ambovombe where our prospective/proposed ‘trained’ teacher will conduct/commence a new business to potentially provide much needed family & community income. We met with representatives of a sewing association when last in Ampanihy, perhaps we can assist with a machine or two there?
* Tony & Sandra Castley will not travel with us; they will stay in Antananarivo supervising the ‘Sewaid Programme” with Beatrice, however, the programme cannot commence until the machines & material is delivered to Antananarivo from our container in Toliara. Private negotiations will be made to transport it to them in Tanna ASAP after the container is unloaded

Rotary Club of Antananarivo responsible for Adrien, Liva, Beatrice, Sylvain, Bob, would you please;
• Liaise with Colonel Miha & Colonel Elack of BNGRC in relation to this document to ensure the content is understandable & agreeable by all parties so we may all work together to make this a really worthwhile & enjoyable project (I have copied the both gentlemen in on this email)
• Reply by email to Peter Pearce to confirm this document is acceptable to the club & that support previously promised is still available & welcomed
• Confirm to Peter Pearce by email that it would be possible to ‘home host’ our team or book us into alternative appropriate accommodation in Antananarivo for the nights of 8th/9th & again on 19th/20th/21st June
• Confirm that someone from Antananarivo Rotary Club would be available to ‘meet & greet’ team on arrival on 8th June
• Liaise with President Rudy & his club in Toliara to enlist their support when ‘the team’ visits on the 11th & 12th of June. (I am sending copy of this email to the Rotary Club of Toliara)
1. Please request that they contact all the recipients of our goods, that is, all of the people we visited in October, the Hospital, School, Nathaniel Orphanage, Soccer Association requesting their ‘hands on’ assistance when we unload our container on 12th June, after which, distribution to recipients will occur
2. Please kindly ask President Rudy to either ‘home host’ our team or book us into hotel accommodation for the nights of 11th & 12th June.
3. Please ask President Rudy to supply ‘many hands’, that is, lots of manpower on 12th June to help us unload container, distribute some goods to recipients & to load BNGRC trucks for our exciting journey commencing the next day.
4. All important Water Project
As discussed & agreed upon on our previous visit, the water project will be organised /driven by the Rotary Club of Antananarivo in conjunction with BNGRC. Water testing must be carried out & results analysed on the prospective site prior to our arrival. President Elect Liva Randriamboavonjy to organise & head committee to oversee whole operation. Whilst ‘in country’ we will carry out other surveys/investigations for future areas identifying them for next years proposed water projects
5. Please arrange for all the ‘persons concerned’ to be in attendance at the meeting on Saturday 9th June to discuss action & forward progress in regards to site location/preparation/installation of our water unit. The purchase price of the water unit, tower & infrastructure has been around $8,100, it will be necessary to ensure our unit is put to appropriate use in an area where it can “do the most for the most’ www.skyjuice.com.

BNGRC Miha & Elack Responsible for;
• Arrange for a meeting to be held on Saturday 9th June to discuss plans/logistics/journey
• Prepare five? 4 wheel drives, ready for departure Sunday 10th June. (As we only have 10 persons plus you guys, perhaps only four 4 wheel drives will be required?)
• Prepare two? ten ton trucks, ready for departure Sunday 10th June (If Ajesaja Soccer takes most of the soccer gear direct to Antananarivo, I probably feel that two trucks would suffice, perhaps your engineers would be able to calculate number of trucks needed to carry goods that would three quarters fill a 40 foot shipping container?)
• Arrange BNGRC drivers, security & all that you deem necessary for our safe trip
• Fuel for four? wheeled drives & trucks will be paid for by visiting team (as per MOU)
• Supply BNGRC stamped small clothes bags, ready to be packed from clothing items contained in wool bales, however, if you view my comments under ‘items in our container for distribution’, point two, you, may decide to leave clothes intact in the wool bales & deliver them ‘as is’
• Prior to our arrival, discuss with Incoming Rotary President Liva & Beatrice, the suggested location/placement of our water filtration unit, including carrying out suggested tasks under ‘Project Brief’ mentioned earlier in this report. It is our intention to bring all the necessary parts/equipment (except pump & tanks), so we may install this water unit on arriving back to Antananarivo from ‘down south’ We are very keen to see this unit ‘up & running’ as we plan to bring into Madagascar many more units next year if this initial unit achieves great success
(Fundraising projects has already begun to pay for many more units to be delivered next year?)
• Please would you book the accommodation for the areas & dates noted earlier in this report under ‘accommodation’(we would obviously leave it up to you if you think alternative locations are more suitable)
• As per daily schedule, would you please view our proposed container items & determine, prior our arrival , the recipients, areas, procedures, quantities & the best way ‘to get the distribution done in the most equitable way’. As you know the areas, needs, & the people, we leave it up to you to direct us in this distribution Consultation with Rotary in Toliara would also be requested re distribution in that area
• As BNGRC is the consignee for ‘the goods’, we will ensure a complete manifest noting & describing all the contents of the container will be forwarded by email to you prior to it being shipped
• We are keen to ‘deliver on our promises’ to the people we visited on our October trip, the ones we suggested could be ‘the recipients’ of some of our container items
• As we have ‘factored in’ some funds to pay for labour on this trip, would you organise manpower at the port of Toliara & distribution sites
• Miha, I will seek to obtain approval from ShelterBox Trust to distribute our 10 ShelterBoxes presently held in your care. Would you please find appropriate recipients that suit our criteria so we may donate those 10 boxes to families ‘in need’ on this visit. Recipients should be families that are living in ‘unacceptable’ conditions

Extra Notes
• As this project is a ‘team effort’, all members would be expected to be involved in all aspects of our unloading/distribution. It would also be expected that we would stay together as ‘a team’ for the complete duration of our time in Madagascar. This would be a requirement not only for the security aspect but also to ‘share the load’ for the rest of ‘the team’
• Due to ‘incountry’ knowledge, it would be necessary & appropriate that Rotarians from Antananarivo travelling with us on our journey arrange their own transport, accommodation & travel plans; however, they would be most welcome to enjoy this wonderful experience with us
• Overnight accommodation in Ambalavao & Isoanaca may be changed to other available hotels in other locations as appropriate & as determined by BNGRC. Other overnight accommodation may also change by location & duration as determined by BNGRC
• Hotel costs will be paid from ‘group funds’, ‘ Rotarian home hosting’ will be sought where possible as we believe this is the ‘natural Rotarian way’ to make solid friends & forge lasting friendships, remember, Rotary International Conference is to be held in Sydney in 2014, this is where we may be able to repay the kindnesses & the hospitality of our hosts. Our visiting team would be very pleased to attend any Rotary activities/meetings or civic events within our schedule
• A ShelterBox tent will be ‘onboard’ & available for emergencies, such as overcrowding of hotels, snoring! etc.
• If AJESAIA Soccer will pick up the majority of our soccer clothing from Toliara & take it directly back to Antananarivo, it would have the effect of emptying our container by 25%; therefore, we probably require only two ten ton trucks for our distribution??....to be discussed.
• We wish the donation & distribution of our container items to be ‘non-political’; therefore, we do not wish to promote/advertise our distribution in a ‘political’ manner, however, local, national, & global Rotary exposure would be expected & welcomed
• Equity in distribution has always been a problem, if you give to one; you really need to give to all! Miha, Elack will guide us in this regard to ensure no riots occur!
• BNGRC will be our guide as to identifying our recipients in the Androy region as there is no Rotary involvement in the region, also, this is an area that Miha & Elack visit frequently with BNGRC
• Our photographer Peter, will take the necessary photographs for us to take back to our generous sponsors showing the actual recipients receiving their marvellous gifts
Names & email addresses of Rotarians/Partners travelling to Madagascar
Peter Hamilton peterhamilton1@hotmail.co.uk Rotary Club Of Gosford North
David Rivett david.rivett@telstrawholesale.com Rotary Club of Gosford North
John & Sue Coddington codd28@hotmail.com Rotary Club of Gosford North
Bob & Cheryl Nelson rcdnel8@tpg.com.au Rotary Club of Taree North
Trevor & Cheryl Harrison cjharro@bigpond.com Rotary Club of Taree North
Peter & Sheryl Pearce peterpearce48@hotmail.com Rotary Clubs of Gosford North & Terrigal
*Tony & Sandra Castley tonyc@sewgroup.com Rotary ‘E’ Club of Greater Sydney
*Travelling by themselves. Supervising ‘Sewaid Programme

Water Project Brief
Please liaise/discuss the following with BNGRC as they also wish to be involved
Outline of the proposed water filtration supply project objectives and intended outcomes
• Location (district, site location). Does approval need to be obtained from local authorities for proposed operation?
• Is the project short term or long term? This will be important to determine the standard of project implementation. Longer term may require consideration of quality of materials and equipment to sustain operation.
• Who will be co-ordinating the projects and who will be responsible for secondary implementation?
Site Assessment Overview
Site assessments will provide an overview for the project:
• Have community liaisons been undertaken?
• Will the community take ownership of the project to ensure continued survival?
Setup Assessment
Raw Feed Water Supply Source
• Where is the raw supply water coming from?
• Is it suitable for the purpose of ultra-filtration or is it salty or contains dangerous chemicals (which can’t be removed by our unit)
• Has a water laboratory test been undertaken to assess the suitability of the water for filtration – and is the report available?
• How far away is the feed water source and is it suitable for piping?
• Is the water source available long term and will it be suitable for the duration of the project, meaning, does the source ever dry up?
Continued Operation
• Who will look after the system upon project completion to ensure system continues operation? Maintenance and cleaning personnel will need to be organised and operational training will need to be undertaken.
Madagascar Contact List



These photos were taken when the shelterbox team was there for the floods in early 2011

People in Southern Madagascar made homeless by the floods. The water seen in the background is where their homes used to be.	Shelterboxes being set up for the people made homeless by floods in Southern Madagascar 2011
A Shelterbox city for the famies made homeless by the Madagascar flood.	Primary school in Madagascar. The books on the table were brought by Shelterbox.
Mother with children making clothes to sell, which are hanging up behind her.	Ladies sewing with old style hand machine.