We need your help to improve health in the rural village of Ambalahonko, Madagascar, by raising funds for the construction of toilet and shower facilities!

Last year, a group of volunteers and staff led by Nick Wilson, Celine Kerslake-Sim and Laura-Liis Moritz successfully raised enough money to construct a new building within Ambalahonko village which was very recently completed - see the cover photo! (and more photos coming of the opening party as the fundraiser progresses...)

This new building contains 4 western style toilets with sinks, and 2 western style showers. These are the FIRST toilet and shower facilities that are present in the village, and we would really like to be able to replicate this again! We want to replicate the project, as while this is still a phenomenal achievement for the village, there are a lot of people in Ambalahonko and realistically - they urgently need more sanitation facilities on top of the ones already completed.

To help motivate donations we want to do some fundraising tasks based on tiers of money raised! So we pledge the following:

£1500 raised - team hike totalling 75km!

£2500 raised target - team swim across to Komba (5.5km) and hike up to the highest peak totalling 100km in the same day!

Please read below for some information about the village, the conditions prior to WC/Shower construction and goals! Credit to Nick and Laura for the wonderful video and information.

Access to safe drinking water and sanitation is poor in Madagascar, especially in rural areas, where only 29% of families use improved drinking water sources, and only 11% use adequate sanitation facilities. This is the case for the village of Ambalahonko, on the island of Nosy Be, Madagascar. The village contains approximately 100 residents (including 60 children), who until October 2018, has no access to toilet or shower facilities.

Villagers often use the mangrove forest, where the children also bathe and play, as a toilet. This increases their exposure to waterborne diseases and parasites, especially as water levels rise, carrying waste into the village to surround many of the houses. Growing used to this from a young age, children are unaware of the need to change their habits and there is no alternative for parents to teach. Villagers rarely access running water to wash hands after going to the toilet, or must use the communal basin (shown below). This tap and trough was built over 20 years ago and now drainage is slow. Stagnant water sits there throughout each day, despite frequent use for washing clothes, bodies, pots and pans and even cleaning after going to the toilet. This multi-use of the basin actually increases the risk of diseases, such as Typhoid Fever, which is spread by transferring urine and faeces to eyes or mouth, either directly or by contaminating food and communal water.

The goal - to do it all again!

In mimic of last year's project - this project is not just a lump-sum gift for the village, but a sustainable, long-term initiative to empower the community. We plan to build another toilet block on the other side of the village as 4 toilets between 160 people is not enough for proper sanitation. The block will house both toilets and showers, with a tap outside to allow villagers to wash their hands immediately after use.

The villagers are actively invested in the project; construction and ongoing management of the facilities will be the responsibility of a village association. The villagers have already proved that they are capable of handling such a project, please see below for some completed building photos! There will be more photos added over the coming weeks as the village holds a celebration for the opening of the block - it is a really huge source of happiness and pride for them.

Please don't hesitate to contact with any questions!