Foundations completed, walls go up this week

Our project manager Roland is now living in Andranosoa and will be sending us daily updates of the building work as the deadline to complete the school draws near. In the last day, the foundations have all been finished and money has been transferred to purchase materials for the rest of the building.

Building Work Starts in Madagascar

With 52 Days to go until we depart for Madagascar, building work has started in ernest. Roland, our project manager in Madagascar has just sent us these photos.

20 Questions that Require Answers!

Just a quick check-list with 57 days to go!

1. Have you handed in all of your fundraising money to Mrs Clark? 
2. Have you paid all of your trip money?
3. Have you had all of your jabs?
4. Have you ordered Malarone or similar anti malarial?
5. Do you have extra packets of medicine that you may need?
6. Have you copied your passport for Mrs McCall and one to keep at home?
7. Have you given me any snorkelling equipment that you can lend?
8. Have you bought all of your equipment and clothes?
9. Are you getting to the peak of physical fitness? 
10. Are you working on your swimming if you are not a strong swimmer?
11. Have you been to the dentist recently for a check up?
12. Do you know your blood type?
13. Are all of your medical records up to date in school?
14. Are your emergency contact details correct on the school system?
15. Have you let me know of any specific dietary requirements?
16. Have you left the morning of Sat 7th July free to bring your kit to school?
17. Do you have any large holdalls/ kit bags you could lend for taking equipment out and back?
18. Do you have a partner that you will share a tent with? 
19. Have you read through the revised itinerary and risk assessment with parents/ guardians?
20. Are you still selling tickets for the England football shirt because it is still sitting in my office?!

Any specific answers please email me with a response. I will be giving out a form at the upcoming parents meeting on Wednesday the 13th June (tbc) where most of the other bits and pieces can be filled in (next of kin, diet etc...)

Mr Cornish 

Andranosoa Meetings

While work is well under way to build our new school, the village have been having a series of meetings to prepare them for our visit. Here are the latest photos from project manager Roland:

This is one of the primary school classrooms where we will be 'camping' during our project work 

Memories of Previous Expeditions to Madagascar

I was just going through my old photos of Madagascar and lots of excellent expedition Memories came flooding back!

Camping on a deserted coral island with pupils from the American School of Antananarivo

Construction work in the Eastern Rainforest

 4x4 Trip to the East coast with the American School

Teaching American school pupils how to build a fence in the Rainforest with Hennie (carpenter)

Camp cooking

Flying over the Eastern Rainforest with Gurt (pilot)

I'm sure that we will come back with equally amazing stories and photos!

Mr Cornish 

Snorkelling

I am looking for 5 mask, snorkel and flipper sets so that we can explore the islands off of Belo Sur Mer. Knowing that some of you are well travelled I'm sure that we can put together this equipment rather than having to buy it all new.

Please can you let me know if you or someone you know has a set (or individual items) that you will able to lend. You will need to allow them to be used by other members of the team other than yourself!

Please let me know asap and bring any of the items to school by the end of next week. 

Mr Cornish 

Team Meeting

It is now 82 days until we depart for Madagascar!

 

There is a meeting this Friday at 1:20pm in Mr Cornish's teaching room: everyone is expected to attend.  Please bring your lunch and don't be late.

 

Mrs McCall

Indian Ocean with Simon Reeve

Must see TV over the next few weeks is the new series by explorer and travel writer Simon Reeve "Indian Ocean". He has traveled around the Indian Ocean documenting the stories of the people he meets. Next Sunday he will be in Madagascar, not far from the final stop on our expedition, meeting the coastal vezo fishermen.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00pqbfg

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/africaandindianocean/9215866/Simon-Reeve-interview-the-devil-and-the-deep-blue-sea.html

Videos of Andranosoa

School Construction Underway

I Have just returned to Antananarivo after three days staying in Andranosoa, the site of our School Building Project. Here are some photos with a commentary from my time in the village:
Andranosoa is a large village with a population of 1,300, 425 of whom are children under the age of 16.

The majority of people life in 2-storey traditional mud and wood houses, typical of the local Merina tribe. Although a lot of houses have now got an electricity supply, they only use it for lighting. Water comes from communal taps fed from a local reservoir and all toilets are outside. Cooking is done inside the house using charcoal stoves.

Most of the villagers are farmers with rice and zebu the main produce.

The principal purpose of the trip was to oversee the start of building work on the site of the new school. After meeting the Mayor and President of the village on Tuesday, they gave the go-ahead for work to start on Wednesday. Over 50 local men turned up to start digging the foundations.

Today (Thursday) saw the official ceremony of the laying of the first stones with the Mayor, President and Roland (Project Manager).