Madagascar : World's Top 5 Commitments for Earth Hour 2023

Posted on 31 March 2023

With more than 12,000 people mobilized during the celebration activities and hundreds of thousands engaged on social networks, Madagascar is in the top 5 worldwide for Earth Hour 2023 engagement.

The Earth Hour 2023 celebration was a success in Madagascar after 3 years of inactivity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, Namako ny Tany's member youth associations collaborated with authorities, grassroots communities, private companies, schools and other NGOs to organize awareness and information events on nature. Their goal is to raise awareness and sensitize as many people as possible, whether they are children, youth, or adults, about the importance of nature through various interactive activities. Some of these activities include the Walk for the Earth, community dialogues, radio-crochet, recycling workshops, reforestation and others.

Here are the echoes of the Earth Hour 2023 celebration in Madagascar:

ANTANANARIVO :

- 18 march : March for the Earth: 500 young people marched this morning from Andohalo High School. The event continued with a podium, exhibitions, stands, a quiz on nature, slam and other animations. Students, young people and people came to learn about the environment, learned to recycle plastic and participated in various campaigns.

- 24 march : The youth of UVVT Unis Vers Vintsy Tana, Ank'Izy, YMCA Madagascar came to sensitize the pupils of the EPP Antanimena III. The children learned to plant "Ravinala" and were trained on eco-actions.
As part of the Earth Hour celebration, the outside walls of the school were decorated with drawings of endemic animals of Madagascar with the phrase "Tany Iray, Trano Iray".

- 25 march : 2,500 children and youth marched for the Earth around Lake Anosy - Antananarivo. The march ended at the Lycée Moderne Ampefiloha so that the young people could participate in the event organized by the young Namako Ny Tany and the teachers of the Lycée Moderne Ampefiloha. There were several animations, exhibitions made by the youth associations:
Ank'Izy, Civilian Madagasikara, YMCA Madagascar, ECI Youth Volunteering Network, Firaisan'ny Skotisma eto Madagasikara, Unis Vers Vintsy Tana UVVT, FAKOTÔRY, JCI Iarivo, Jeunes Actifs pour le Développement Durable Madagascar - JADD/ YA4SD MADA, Move Up Madagascar, STONE

MITSINJO – TOLIARA II :

23 march : 117 improved stoves were sold yesterday in the village of Mitsinjo, commune of Mitsinjo Betanimena, district of Toliara II. The objective was to reduce the rate of destruction of forests for the production of charcoal and also to reduce the amount of charcoal used in the kitchen. The associations COJEAA and TAFAMAHASOATOI participated and led during this activity.

ANDAPA :

- 23 march : Club Vintsy led the campaign for 150 students from CEG Andapa and Lycée Mixte Andapa, accompanied by the WWF Andapa team. To celebrate the International Day of Forests and Earth Hour, they sensitized and taught the children to protect the environment, especially Simpona.

- 25 march : The celebration of the International Day of Forests and Earth Hour in Andapa gathered 500 people present. Students, teachers, Club Vintsy, DREDD, HELVETAS, WWF and the inhabitants of Andapa were among the participants of the event. The celebration was marked by a march followed by drumming around the town of Andapa. There was also an awareness and education on nature conservation and Simpona by the local Vintsy Club, a "hook radio" and a candle lighting for an hour in the evening.

AMBOHIMAHAVELONA :

24 march : The local based communities (COBA) and the Mihavao NAP Amoron'i Onilahy Federation held a "community dialogue" yesterday at Fokontany Ambiky Ambohimahavelona - Amoron'i Onilahy. The topics raised during the exchange are the effects of forest degradation and the solutions related to it.
In addition, there was a campaign at the CEG of Ambohimahavelona by the youth of COJEAA and TAFAMAHASOATOI. Students from sixth to third grade were made aware of the daily gestures for the environment or "ecogestures" through mini-games.
These activities and local campaigns are part of the celebration of the International Day of Forests and Earth Hour.

MORONDAVA – MANAMBY :

- 24 march : Morondava : The Consortium des Jeunes "Mahery", the NGO Manao Manga and the WWF Morondava team donated 8 garbage cans to the Lycée Pôle Morondava. They also sensitized the students to "ecogestures" in collaboration with the school's teachers.
Manamby : The Manamby community, the Mayor of Manamby, DREDD Menabe, CJM and WWF gathered for the replanting of trees planted in January.

- 25 march : The celebration of Earth Hour in Avaradrova Morondava led by the Youth Consortium "Mahery" with WWF is marked by the cleaning of the beach of Avaradrova. 300 people participated.
After the march, the Acting Mayor of Morondava, the President of Fokontany Avaradrova and the President of the Youth Consortium Mahery led the campaign on environmental protection and respect for cleanliness.

AMBIKY :

25 march : The local based communities of Ambiky in collaboration with COJEAA planted 2000 saplings yesterday in Fokontany Ambiky, Commune of Ambohimahavelona. Many types of trees were cultivated this day.
"The forest is the environment," said Randrianirina, COBA Ambiky. He is convinced that the forest must be protected and not destroyed because it is where living beings live, especially humans.

MAINTIRANO :

25 march : An Earth Walk and numerous campaigns marked the Earth Hour celebration in Maintirano. 250 people participated in activities organized by Consortium des Jeunes Vonona, WWF, DREDD Melaky, DRPEB Melaky, and VOI Ampasimandroro. The International Day of Forests was also celebrated and people were encouraged to protect the forest and informed about the importance of nature for human health.
The organizing associations of this event are Consortium des jeunes Vonona, Fédération FIHAME, ONG Ny VOAHARY, VOI Alamaintso, DRS Melaky, Ecole les petits Anges Maintirano, CEG La référence Maintirano, Tireurs de pousse-pousse, WWF Melaky

TOLIARA

25 march : 500 youth, children and adults participated in the march from Ankilifaly to Ankilisaofilira in Toliara during the Earth Hour celebration. After that, there were various campaigns and the sale of improved stoves in Ankilisaofilira.
Associations organizing and participating in this event are COJEAA - WWF - Network Club Vintsy Ranobe - Tafamahasoatoi - Arinosy Communication Toliara - Vatohara Club Vintsy - Ank'Izy - Club MAITSOANALA.

BELO SUR TSIRIBIHINA :

Over 800 people came to join the event, including youth groups, teachers, students, forest mayors and CISCO.
- 24 march : they gathered for the replanting of the trees planted by the students on February 24 and 25.

- 25 march : Many people did a nature walk and picked up the garbage that was strewn on the road during the walk to encourage the residents to keep the city clean. Then there was a contest by the students of LSFA (Lycée Saint François d'Assise) on cleaning the interior and exterior of the school.

AMBILOBE :

25 march : JCI Ambilobe, Scout Ambilobe, FUP BATAN, ROSEDA, Kung-fu Wisa Ambilobe and the local communities of Siranana, Angodorofo, planted mangroves on an area of 5 hectares in Fokontany Siranana, District of Ambilobe. Female species of mangroves were planted.
They were 400 to participate and among them the representative of the district of Ambilobe, the representative of the mayor of Beramanja and the presidents of COBA around Siranana. To celebrate Earth Hour, members of Namako Ny Tany Ambilobe organized a march with other organizations to raise awareness about climate change.

BEALANANA :

25 march : The city of Bealanana was present at this first Earth Hour event. Over 1000 people attended and marched. Students, teachers, women's organizations, government and private business representatives and the people of Bealanana participated. During the event, there were different campaigns and dances made by the youth.

SAMBAVA :

25 march : More than 200 people celebrated Earth Hour in Sambava. To mark the event, there was a walk for nature and different campaigns such as dance, poetry, "zumba", "slam" and "radio crochet". There was also a presentation of certificates for the most deserving "carnival".
The Mayor, DAGR (Director of General and Regional Administration), Director of Infrastructure and Development, DREDD SAVA attended all the events with the participating organizations and schools: LCF, Duke Lemur Center, MBG, Lycée FJKM Filadelfia, Lycée Sainte Thérèse (Club Environnement) , Lycée Mixte Sambava (Léo club), Alliance Française, Lycée privé ABC Ambodisatrana I-II, Commune Urbaine de Sambava.