| As we all know, it's been an incredibly difficult year across the world but, once again, YOU, our incredible team of supporters, have helped SEED continue, and increase, the help we provide in Madagascar. People in Madagascar have faced some of the worst times imaginable through the pandemic, with failed harvests, drought, and famine threatening lives and livelihoods across its southern regions. You have helped us respond to this crisis over the last 11 months, and have supported us as we provided food to 921 children and 5526 of their family members in Anosy. Alongside this, our teams have continued planting forests, delivering health education, building schools, strengthening livelihoods and working towards greater community resilience; so, we end 2021 with a lot of hope. To our original SEED supporters and to all of the new faces around here: we couldn’t have got through 2021 without you! Here’s to a happy, healthy, and resilient 2022 for everyone the world over, and especially for the communities and ecosystems of Madagascar. | | Stitch President Esterline in the Stitch studio. Photographed by: Hannah Shepherd | "I dream of Stitch to be sustainable" | Esterline has been the President of the Stitch Sainte Luce Cooperative for the past 9 years. The last two years have been hard, as border closures from March 2020 to November 2021 stopped sales to tourists, and stock wasn’t able to reach the UK, affecting online sales. The loss of this income to the 96 women who depend on it has made life even more difficult for them and their families. Esterline explains this loss “things are so different, with Stitch we can make 100,000 Ariary in one or two weeks; this is (not only) enough to make ends meet but it can also support us to cover other issues, even if these occur suddenly, such as getting our children to hospital when they are sick…”. With Madagascar’s borders now open after 20 months, and the Stitch studio repaired after it was partially eaten by termites, the 96 women who make up the Stitch cooperative are excited to rebuild their livelihoods. | | | | Satellite image showing the area of land lost. Image: Google Earth // Map: Samantha Ambler | The aftermath of the bushfire | At the start of December, we shared the tragic news of the bushfire which devastated a significant area of Sainte Luce, taking with it vital habitats and resources. Since then, we have learnt that 532 acres of land (266 football pitches) were severely burnt, and 90% of two of the mahampy reed wetlands which Project Mahampy weavers depend on, were destroyed by the fire. Quinn Parker is our Senior Programme Officer for Environment and Sustainable Livelihoods, including Project Mahampy, and she explains the need for long-term resilience strategies in Madagascar’s Anosy region in an interview we shared earlier this month. In the video, Quinn discusses the profound impact of the fire on the women who weave mahampy reeds to earn a living, and the aim of Project Mahampy to work alongside weavers to increase their resilience in the face of future threats such as drought, climate change, and fire - “...instead of being reactive, we want to be proactive.” | | | | The Power of Bees animation. Animation and video: Louise Miller | Bee the change you wish to see! | Whilst we could never choose a favourite species out of all those we work with here in southeast Madagascar, we must admit that Malagasy honey bees sit very high on our list. Not only are their contributions to Madagascar’s ecosystems incredibly important, but their role in providing supplementary livelihoods to local communities here make them very special creatures indeed. Our incredible supporter Louise Miller made an animation to highlight the importance of bees in Madagascar's Anosy region and how, through the sale of their honey, beekeepers can increase their household incomes and, therefore, their resilience. Even when drought strikes and harvests fail, beekeepers will be able to sell the honey from their hives to buy food and cover their family expenses, such as school fees. Our Project Renitantely (Project Honeybee) is working with community members in Anosy to strengthen and teach new beekeeping skills, and to bring their honey to a larger market. If you still can't bee-lieve the power of these fuzzy friends, check Louise's animation out below! | | | Monthly Mini Malagasy Lesson with Lima Misaotra betsaka - thank you very much!
Tratry ny taona - Happy New Year! | | | This email was sent to friend@example.com | © SEED Madagascar. All rights reserved. |
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