Tolisoa, Rivo, and Mara: business people who support their community.
Thanks to innovative initiatives, local business people are improving living conditions for communities in the ecovillages of the southern part of Madagascar as they are also developing their economies.
In the village of Ankaranabo, Tolisoa Fostine, a passionate dressmaker, has responded to a crucial need of the women and girls in her community. She makes and sells strong, washable sanitary towels, which offer a healthier and more sustainable alternative to the pieces of cloth used by women in the past. « These towels make us feel good and comfortable during our periods, and the women in the village are happy to buy them,” she explains.
Tolisoa is not alone in this initiative: three other women from the village have joined her, increasing the impact of their activity. Every week, they sell around twenty towels, which can rise to 50 when they travel to markets in the surrounding villages to promote their products. More than just a product, these towels have become an essential tool for the health and well-being of the girls in the village.
Access to menstrual hygiene products is just one part of improving the conditions of these ecovillages. The construction of latrines equipped with a good-quality shower in schools completes this holistic approach, ensuring that girls can manage their menstruation in decent conditions. Elina, 13, is one of the girls who use the towels made by Tolisoa. « These towels and the shower at school help us a lot. It's part of respecting our dignity and helps us to stay focused on our studies,’ she says.
Business people at the service of public health
In the same village, Rivo and Mara, two committed local builders, are playing a key role in improving sanitary conditions in the community. They make sanplat slabs for latrines, helping to tackle the problem of open defecation and the spread of disease. Despite their low-profit margins, they remain determined to offer this vital service.
‘Our work is essential for public health, and even if we don't earn much, we're proud to be able to help our village,’ says Rivo. They aim to develop this activity on a larger scale, extend their impact beyond Ankaranabo, and help improve living conditions throughout the region.
In these ecovillages in the south of Madagascar, local entrepreneurship, supported by capacity-building programs and sustainable infrastructure, is gradually changing the face of the communities while putting the health, hygiene, and well-being of children at the heart of their concerns.
« I'm grateful for the training and accessories we've received, which have enabled us to get our business off the ground. But we still need a little help, particularly in terms of support, to continue to develop our business,’ concludes Tolisoa
Note: The UNICEF eco-villages concept is funded by the National Committees for UNICEF in Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Andorra, and Germany, as well as by the Moondance and Eleva foundations.
