Cymraeg
On Saturday, June 15th 2024, a significant milestone was reached in Amboasarikely, Ambalalava Fokontany, in the Itasy region of Madagascar. MfM, in partnership with our education partner AVM (Association Voahary Maintso), officially opened a remarkable new bridge as part of the Education for Life programme. This bridge is more than just infrastructure; it represents a transformative change for the local community.
Students in the neighbouring villages often faced unreliable and dangerous routes to their school, EPP Amboasarikely, particularly during the rainy season when the old wooden bridge would often become impassable. This not only disrupted their students’ education, causing many children to miss school, but also affected other members of the community. When the route became blocked, residents struggled to access essential medical care.
To tackle these challenges, MfM funded the construction of a new, sturdy bridge, which was officially opened on June 15th 2024. This new bridge provides a safe and reliable crossing, ensuring that students can attend school consistently and that the community has improved access to local hospitals and other vital services.
For years, students at EPP Amboasarikely faced dangerous and unreliable routes to school, especially during the rainy season. The old wooden bridge, which frequently became impassable when the river levels rose too high, disrupted their education and forced many children to miss school. The local community, particularly the parents, desperately needed a more reliable crossing to ensure their children could attend school regularly. The situation was dire for the wider community too; residents struggled to reach essential services, including medical care, when the bridge was washed out by heavy rains.
The new bridge, built with durable materials and designed to withstand the region’s challenging weather conditions, replaces the old wooden structure that was frequently rendered impassable. The construction process involved extensive planning and coordination to ensure the bridge would provide safe and dependable access year-round.
The inauguration ceremony in June was a momentous occasion. Local dignitaries attended, and their presence represented the importance of this project and the positive impact it will have on the communities. Both in terms of school attendance and general transportation links throughout the region, including greater access to healthcare.
Rakotoarisoa André, President of the bridge construction committee, shared his reflections on the transformative impact of the new bridge:
“Before, we had a lot of difficulty crossing the river where we built the bridge because there was only a round wooden bridge for many years. Each time the rainy season arrived, the bridge was washed away, and students had difficulty going to school as most of the students of this school lived north of the school. Sometimes, they had to miss school because of the difficulty accessing it. Now, thanks to the construction of this concrete bridge, we are genuinely relieved. Our major problem has been solved, and the students can go to school every day, even during the rainy season.
The community also had difficulty before because if a woman was going to give birth or if someone was sick, we couldn’t cross the river and had to take a longer route to get to the hospital… We want to express our infinite thanks to all those responsible for funding and building this bridge because it is like a lifeline for the community of Ambalalava Fokontany. Our neighbourhood and other surrounding neighbourhoods like Ambatomanjaka and Bedasy all use this bridge.”
The bridge is more than a structure; it enhances access to education and strengthens community resilience. This project highlights the essential role of investment in education and infrastructure in securing a brighter future for the children of Madagascar.
