The

Andrew Lees Trust

Social and environmental projects in Madagascar

The Andrew Lees Trust (ALT) was set up in January 1995, in memory of Andrew Lees, then Campaigns Director of Friends of the Earth, following his tragic death in the forests of southern Madagascar in 1994. Andrew had worked closely with local communities in all his campaigns and he passionately believed in empowering people to find their own solutions - whether it be for environmental, social or personal development.

Ten years on and the Trust charity has implemented, and continues to develop, a number of social and environmental projects in Madagascar that aim to reduce poverty and improve natural resource management, food security, and health practices, especially HIV awareness, for rural communities in the south of the country.

Understanding the problems caused by current farming strategies and developing environmentally sustainable solutions for such diverse habitats is severely hindered by the acute shortage of trained Malagasy professionals who can take on the task of researching current resources and practices, and then working with local communities to implement more sustainable methods of farming, fishing and agriculture.

Education can be a single alleviating factor in a family's ability to overcome the effects of poverty. In the south availability of schooling or adult training is restricted by poor infrastructure and lack of services. Little access to information and communications contributes to the vulnerability of isolated rural populations.

The Trust is supporting and implementing a number of projects which aim to provide educational opportunities, and address the information and communication needs of local populations in the south.

Trust Activities

Project Radio

EC funded Early Warning System using radio broadcasts on the radio station network across Southern Madagascar. Used in combination with our distribution of the wind-up radio to village listening groups, we can address communications to a large populations.

Project Radio Network

A growing network of 18 FM radio stations which broadcast informational and educational programmes across much of Southern Madagascar

HIV Awaremess

AIDS education through the radio station network and broadcasts.

Projet Energy

Fuel Efficiency Program for Southern Madagascar - funded by the UK Lottery Fund.

Drought Mitigation

Intended to develop skills for populations in the harsh hit drought areas of the Androy region, the project addresses the need to plant trees, stabilise the soil and improve food security. The project re-introduces sorghum as a main crop, also educating and enabling people to grow and use seed varieties that will be drought resistant that will provide fodder and fuel, as well as food.

Promotion of Malagasy Culture

Increasing awareness and support for Madagascar culture.

The Libanona Ecology Centre

Training and resource centre for the south of Madagascar

Waste Management

A waste clearing project in Fort Dauphin developed a number of activities aimed to improve awareness and practice in waste management including educational radio broadcasts, a month of participative activities with townspeople and local partners, and a routine of waste collection around targeted areas with particular relevance to the town's health and eco-tourism interests.

Land Management

To slow the winds down, stop the shifting sands to manage an expanding sand dune, the trust provided truck transport as well as seed and sisal seedling purchases,as part of a cooperative effort to plant rows of sisal perpendicular to the direction of the prevailing winds .

Contact

The Andrew Lees Trust (U.K)
c/o Warchild Offices
5-7 Anglers Lane
London NW5 3DG
Tel: 020 7424 9256
Fax: 0870 458 1810
email:
admin@andrewleestrust.org

Andrew Lees Trust (Madagascar)
BP 293
Libanona,
Fort Dauphin 614
Madagascar
Tel: 00 2612 0 92 21754

email: alt@moov.mg