We start our journey before dawn. By the end of the day we will be deep in the forest high up a mountain – but there are several stops along the way to visit the villages where Ibrahim and Cathy Ravoahangy have been working.
First stop – Ampitambe. This is the village where Ancient Path partnered in an artisan project several years ago. The villagers made stunning, colorful baskets, we sold them in the US and sent 100% of the proceeds back to Ampitambe. After the artisans took a fee for their work, the remaining funds went to building school rooms and hiring more teachers. Ibrahim tells me this was a very successful project that helped both the school and the individual families.
Now the Global Action School of Ampitambe is packed to capacity with 200 students. However, because of hard economic times in Madagascar, the parents are currently unable to pay even the most nominal school fees for their children. The school director, Felicitos, is very concerned because he is unable to pay the teachers, but Ibrahim tells him whether the parents can pay or not, the children must not be turned away.
We are able to give funds to the director and each of the five teachers to assist them personally during this difficult time. While all of the teachers are very dedicated to their work and live at the school to help keep their expenses low, they must have wages for food and to support their families. But the good news is that the villagers are once again making beautiful baskets that I’ll bring home to sell – and again the proceeds will go back to Ampitambe to pay for repairs on the school and help pay teacher salaries. The parents are grateful that they have a skill by which they can support their children and help the school. They are also grateful that their baskets are appreciated by friends in the USA!
Pastor Pierre paid a high price when he first began in this village. Christians are persecuted in villages of Madagascar because they don’t practice ancestor worship or adhere to many of the hundreds of taboos – called fady – that govern the lives of the villagers. In the beginning of his ministry in Ampitambe, Pastor Pierre’s house was burned to the ground and his wife and daughter were killed, but he didn’t give up. Now, many years later, he is remarried with three beautiful children and both his church and the school are thriving. It’s a privilege for Ancient Path to partner with the Ravoahangys, Pastor Pierre and his wife, and the teachers and skilled artisans of Ampitambe to give these children a good education.
When I return to the USA at the end of November, we hope you’ll buy an Ampitambe basket! Even if you already have one ( or two:), buy one for a friend. They make beautiful Christmas gifts and 100% of the funds go to help the children.
That’s it for Ampitambe. Tomorrrow, if all goes well, I’ll post pictures and stories of the beautiful trek through the mountains and deep forest to the village of Tananambaovao, the beautiful people we met there, and the largest python I’ve ever seen – in or out of a zoo! Veloma!
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