Tree Planting Auction

Dear Friends,
we are planning to plant millions of trees and save thousands of lives in Madagascar - David Attenborough has called it "The most realistic and ambitious tree planting programme. Madagascar has ever seen."

Bid for some of the wonderful lots at treemad3.blogspot.co.uk. There is a wide range of interesting and unusual items. More lots will be added so do look again nearer the closing date.

All lots have been generously donated so every penny of each purchase will go towards the Treemad target - 3 million trees. 

To Bid: (bids may be made in advance until 6pm on Thursday 12th June)
by phone: to Celia on 07515 900081 or 01389 830228
online: to Celia at sanmakess@aol.com or in person on the night.


You may make prior arrangements for proxy bidding.
Download the invitation (PDF) 

Jamie Spencer - Director, Feedback Madagascar
jamie@feedbackmadagascar.org
tel: +44 (0)1852 500657
mob Madagascar: +33 (0)338492131

Scottish Charity no. 023568 

www.feedbackmadagascar.org

We would like to thank www.aardvarksafaris.co.uk for their generous sponsorship of the event.

Art Exhibition

We are happy to announce this Art Exhibition showing some of Paula's Art for Madagascar. 

Paula Cox Art for Madagascar mission statement: 

As a photographer I shall document on going projects with Feedback Madagascar with images to use for publicity and catalogues.

I will create a series of fine art prints from sketches and Madagascan inspiration that will celebrate the cultural traditions and ethnic diversity of the Malagasy people.

I will create an exhibition of my work to highlight the glory of this unique island nation. 

The Art for Madagascar mission continues...

Mad Rings by Rachel

Rachel Toler jewellery designer and maker has joined the Art for Madagascar project and has produced these rings to sell to raise funding for the project. Rachel advised us to purchase gems from individual sellers in the Artesian markets. Please contact us for prices and commissions artformadagascar@gmail.com



We now have a collection of gems ready & waiting to be created into Mad Rings by Rachel: 
Amethyst
Aquamarine
Citrine
Rose quartz
Ruby
Sapphire
Smoky quartz
Topaz

Tourmaline

Fine art prints by Paula Cox

Market Day 2010
Aquatint Limited Edition 75
Image Size 19cm x 43cm
Paper Size 40cm x 62cm
20% to Feedback Madagascar

Walking With Water 2010
Aquatint Limited Edition 75
Image Size 27cm x 41cm
Paper Size 40cm x 62cm
20% to Feedback Madagascar
For prices contact artist

www.paulacoxart.com








Malagasy Dance 2010
Linocut Limited Edition 75
Image Size 21cm x 30cm

Mother and Child 2010
Linocut Limited Edition 75
Image Size 13cm x 31cm

Waiting For Rain 2010
Linocut Limited Edition 75
Image Size 21cm x 30cm

Paper sizes 38cm x 48cm
20% to Feedback Madagascar
For prices contact artist

www.paulacoxart.com

Malagasy Children

Human Rights posters by Paula Cox for Feedback Madagascar

Translation for children's rights poster:
All children have the right to go to school and to continue their studies, whether girl or boy. Let's take action together to support children's rights.

Translation for women's rights poster:
Women & men have equal rights to inherit! Don't forget: Possessions which aren't in your name aren't yours! Message to encourage women to get proof of ownership of things, otherwise they always end up with the man. Let's take action together to promote equal rights. (literally - 'to make equality rule')

Madagascar in black and white

PAGE ONE of two exciting pages

Eco Tourism

'Eco tourism' is responsible travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact and (often) small scale. It educates the traveler; provides funds for conservation; directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and foster respect for different cultures and for human rights. For many countries ecotourism is not simply a marginal activity to finance protection of the environment, but is a major industry of the national economy. In Madagascar ecotourism represents a significant portion of the gross domestic product and economic activity. One definition of ecotourism is “the practice of low-impact, educational, ecologically and culturally sensitive travel that benefits local communities and host countries” (Honey, 1999).



Feedback Madagascar has been involved in the development of various community ecotourism projects. These tourist opportunities are in line with Feedback's philosophy as they not only allow tourists access to beautiful countryside but also allows an opportunity to experience the Malagasy way of life first hand, they ensure that whilst doing so the tourist also gives back to the community by partaking in a sustainable, locally managed project that supports the local community you are visiting. A rural community 39km southeast of Ambalavao, Ambohimahamasina (literally “at the sacred mountain”) is home to Madagascar’s most sacred mountain ‘Ambondrombe’ It is believed that the spirits of all dead people reside on this mountain. There are fixed rates for guides as well as meals and accommodation at the homestay. We stayed the night in Ambohimahamasina and got up early to pay our tourist fee at the ‘commune’ office; these funds are managed by a local committee to improve amenities and benefit local communities.


The trek started with a walk through the rice paddy countryside on to the steep path through forest to the top of the 'Itaolana', the little brother of the Ambondrombe mountain. Our guide was the keeper of the sacred mountain on reaching the top he said prayers and gave thanks to the ancestors who were thirsty for a sip of rum no less! Our lunch was delicious and still hot! Rice and vegetables followed by pineapples grown by our guide. The views across what’s left of the rain forest in the area are breath-taking. Going down the mountain we were met with a thunder storm and got soaked to the bone whilst experiencing the extraordinary light that transformed the countryside in an instant. Eco tourists are housed within the villages and our trail arrived at the basket weavers homestay with full board and lodging, we were made comfortable in the main room of the house where all the family property was on display. We admired the bright yellow men’s tailored jacket which hung on the wall whist we sipped the local rum to dry our damp bones. The family was happy to provide an excellent celebration dinner which was beautifully laid out on the floor upon an array of colourful hand woven matting that the village specialises in. We visited the weaving workshops the next day, you can see the Andoharano basket weavers village which is part on Feedback Madagascar ecotourism trail here Basket Weavers Village Slide Show

Silk Route Trails for Tourists + Homestay:
The discerning tourist can also explore the traditional silk industry in the beautiful Betsileo countryside of Manandriana. Tours can be organised to the village of Soatanana, 38km southeast of Ambositra (tarmac road for 30km). This is a village specialized in spinning and weaving of wild silk, using traditional methods. This region is home to the greatest surface area of tapia forest in Madagascar. You can see the silk weavers village which is part of Feedback Madagascar ecotourism trail here The Silk Weavers Slide Show

The scheme creates economic opportunities for the local communities and provides direct financial benefits for conservation with a focus more on the marketing the local craft product. There is a very desperate need in Madagascar for responsible tourism that includes programmes that minimise the negative aspects of conventional tourism on what's left of the fragile environment and enhance the cultural integrity of local people.
For more treks organised by Feedback Madagascar see their web site

Madagascar in colour

'Education to avoid teenage pregnancy' by Paula Cox for Feedback Madagascar

Water Aid: Providing clean water to communities

Feedback Madagascar works to ensure that all communities have access to clean water, their water supply work is concentrated on providing boreholes, installed with handpumps, using a hand-drilling technique called rotasludge. Feedback Madagascar now has two teams of well-drillers. Their current supporters are Fresh20 and the Eagle Foundation but they are desperately in need of funding to keep the work going. Action is centred around the promotion of the three main WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) messages, essential in reducing diarrhoel disease. Diarrhoeal diseases are still a major cause of sickness and death in Madagascar, and this is largely due to drinking dirty or contaminated water.

Many rural communities have experienced decreases in disease and sickness because of the work with the provision of drinking water systems, and through educational programmes related to the prevention of diarrhoel disease. Some villages have been supplied with gravitational water supply systems and hand pumps. Since Feedback Madagascar started working with HIP, in December 2007 community health educators have been trained in communication techniques to promote behaviour change related to water, sanitation and hygiene. Local masons have also been trained to build hygienic cement latrines using the ‘sanplat’ model.

Basket Weavers Village Madagascar

In 2006 Feedback Madagascar helped to create the woman’s association ‘Soamiray’ in Ambohimahamasina to develop basketry into a sustainable and income-generating activity. Now Soamiray, who produces baskets, handbags, place mats, hats and other wicker items, is making products of better quality that are ready for the international market, & the fair trade company Hazomanga is their main client. Over 140 women work in 14 workshops spread over different villages.








View Basket Weavers Village Slide Show (by Paula Cox)

CLICK HERE to view second page of Art for Madagascar Blog