HOPE and Future Plans
Dear Friends,
If you recall, on April 15 I wrote a blog called “Deadly means Dead”, where I made a financial appeal for $10,000 to complete the renovation of the last remaining four overcrowded, suffocating, and filthy Antalaha sleeping chambers.
https://www.zazatany.org/blog-2-1/speaking-of-air
Prison Director Tony had initially prioritized replacing the rusty, deteriorating tin roofs on the first two chambers. Upon finishing the roofing work and installing roof whirly ventilators, the difference in air quality, air circulation and temperature control was so profound that the prisoners in the last four chambers started grumbling. Inside the two renovated chambers, we had steel brushed away years of squashed bedbug blood and painted the walls with a fresh washable enamel. The two chambers were transformed from filthy sheds for trapped animals, into humanizing spaces for the prisoners to live. The problem is that only a few hundred out of 1900 prisoners were assigned to the renovated chambers. We felt strongly that we needed to fix the culture of “haves” and “have nots” and to finish the other four chambers. But how? We were low on funds.
I am touched and humbled to tell you that we have almost reached our goal of $10,000 (a matching fund for an initial $10,000 which had already been raised) to finish up this important and loving project. Thanks to childhood friends and their parents from Madagascar as well as other friends and family members, who have all reached out with their support. On behalf of Malagasy prisoners who stop us in the courtyard to express their appreciation, we extend this thanks to you.
There is a fun Malagasy phrase ad’ gache (fight Malagasy style), which basically means coming up with a temporary creative solution to a problem. For instance a doctor we know successfully used a wind shield wiper fluid tube as a makeshift catheter to unblock an aging village chief’s bladder. Ouch, cringe. But a successful ad’ gache. Or remembering my dad tying up the transmission of his VW with clothes hangers while limping his car from the bush to the mechanic in the next town. I do trust that the last $1000 will materialize but if not, we’ll look for an ad’ gache solution.
Once Maoly and the team complete the construction of the new buildings on the prison farm, they'll return to Antalaha to finalize the renovation of the remaining four sleeping chambers. This will entail repairing the crumbling roof slabs, adding a sloping layer of concrete to prevent water pooling and installing air-giving wind turbines for better circulation. We will clean and paint the insides of the four chambers, a finishing touch which makes a loving difference to these forgotten men. Thanks to all of you, this project is becoming a reality. The following are “before” and “after” photos of the 2 renovated chambers, and photos of the inside of one of the chambers to be fixed up.
The next project will be renting major earth moving equipment to shape the 165 acres of farmland and drain the swamp and prepare it for planting. We'll hire a professional agronomist and keep Maoly on the ground to manage the inventory of diesel needed to run the machinery and to oversee the entire project. We are praying this will become a permanent solution for food insecurity in Antalaha prison, where inmates only are given one grey glop of starch a day. It's a pressing issue, as starvation remains a leading cause of death in Madagascar's prisons.
We are also praying for funds for 3 other prisions we have visited:
Tsifahy prison needs a reliable source of water. Prisoners are suffering from dehydration and skin diseases. They get 1-2 liters of water each, for drinking, bathing, cooking …. everything.
Both Morondava Prison and Antsirabe Prison need serious septic system renovations. Raw waste is literally flooding into the women’s quarters in Morondava prison when it rains. The smell of urine up through the toilets permeates the men’s ward in Antsirabe even with the doors open. Can’t imagine what it is like at night.
Imagine putting in wind turbines in other prisons, what a difference that would make.
Next year we plan to visit Tulear Prison, and perhaps more prisons in the drought-striken areas in the south. I am sure it will be overwhelming.
When I was a little girl at boarding school, we had to memorize long passages of the Bible. I remember one section from Ephesians very clearly, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
I would be filled with fear, imagining all of the wiles of the devil. Luckily we memorized more comforting passages as well. As an adult entering the prisons, I often need to put on an emotional armor because the reality inside the razor-wire can be traumatising. At other times, I metaphorically remove my armor and want to feel it all, propelled forward by righteous indignation.
We have a great team in place to actually get things done!
Our team is ready and willing. The prison officials are both cheering us on and doing their best to work with us and carry their end of the load. We feel the hand of God in our work, and through the people who have come into our lives.
I’ll continue to post budgets project-by-project and request you to spread the word to your friends. Thanks for loving these men and women whom you will probably never meet. It really encourages us to keep on going.
