Scouts: committed heroes do not hesitate to risk their lives to save others
Two weeks after cyclone Freddy hit southwestern Madagascar, Mahavita and his team continue to raise awareness about water, sanitation, and hygiene practices in the hardest hit communities.
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Scouts gather mid-morning in front of the church in the neighborhood of Antsongobory in southwest Madagascar. They wear scarves and badges, the symbols of their membership and values. Everyone is dressed in a beige uniform for men and blue for women. The group of about 30 people is led by Mahavita, a 25-year-old student in geography at a private university in the city of Tuléar. That day, he divides the group into three teams who will operate in the Antsongobory neighborhood. Following cyclone Freddy, stagnant waters have accumulated everywhere.
These scouts are not easily frightened. They were on the front lines as the cyclone hit their region in March 2023. Alongside UNICEF and other actors, they raised awareness and helped people reach safe shelters, especially people living in at-risk areas. "We are the pillars of our families, and we are committed to saving lives. My dedication is based on these two principles, that's why I don't hesitate to take risks to help the community", Mahavita explains with pride.
At the sites for affected people, they also took part in various communication actions to facilitate the organization on-site. Their actions were decisive during the emergency phase following cyclone Freddy, which caused the death of 17 people and affected approximately 190,000 people in 12 regions of Madagascar.
Continuous action
After the meeting, the three groups designated by Mahavita leave for their respective areas of intervention. They share water, sanitation, and hygiene practices with the people they meet. "Adopting good practices minimises the risk of contamination by various diseases during the post-cyclonic period," explains Léonard, a member of Mahavita’s group.
Most of these scouts are young people, but among them, Fanomeza, a 49-year-old woman, stands out. She joined the team five years ago because she believes she can help support the community. "Scouting is a way to build character and it reinforces the education of children and young people. In fact, three of my four children are scouts and I think they have become quite resourceful," says Fanomeza, who displays the same dynamism as the rest of the group. Whether it be Mahavita, Léonard, Fanomeza or the other members of the group, the scouts are recognised as committed community actors, who are essential for the development of the country.
With technical and financial support from UNICEF, 300 scouts in the Atsimo Andrefana and Menabe regions have been mobilized to carry out communication and community engagement activities in at-risk areas, as well as awareness raising for disaster victims in shelter sites. Thousands of lives have been saved by these formidable heroes, who work with great humility.
