Leaking roofs threaten architectural heritage and livelihoods

Today, there are increasing efforts to save this threatened historic site, the only place in Madagascar that has uniform architecture dating to the 19th century. The challenge is immense, given the condition of most of the houses. The primary threat comes from leaking roofs that no longer protect the vulnerable adobe walls. Each year several houses fall down during the rainy season, leaving numerous families homeless.

Maintenance is the key to protecting these structures

The Program to Save the Old City, operating under the auspices of the Heritsialonina Foundation (registered as an Association under Malagasy law), works collaboratively with the resident population and donors to save this heritage site and to improve the lives of the residents. The primary objectives of PSOC were established during a phase of participatory research carried with the local population at the beginning of the project.

PSOC works collaboratively with Old City residents

Among our priority interventions :

• The rehabilitation of tile roofs: This intervention helps families to restore their tile roofs. About half the cost of the repair is subsidized by the project, but the family pays the other half. Families of limited means pay off their contribution over 1-2 years and those who are too poor to pay even a modest contribution can reimburse their share in labor, doing projects of benefit to the community. Any materials that can be saved from the original roof are reused, traditional methods of construction are employed, and the work is done by local builders. The project has reintroduced the traditional practice of using bamboo for horizontal struts. In order to ensure a regular supply of bamboo (the constraint for builders in the past), we have a relationship with a women’s association in Ranomafana village. Buying sustainably harvested bamboo from these women reduces pressures to illicitly harvest tropical hardwoods from the flagship national park, while assuring the Old City’s bamboo supply.

Before rehabilitation...	...after rehabilitation
Before rehabilitation...	...after rehabilitation

• Improvements to sanitation: The site is built on granite, making it impossible to dig pit latrines. The sanitation situation was catastrophic until PSOC introduced dry composting (eco-san) latrines. With financial help from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) we are building single and multi-family composting latrines throughout the community.

A composting latrine stands in stark contrast to its predecessor

• Infrastructure rehabilitation to improve the quality of life: In the 1980s and 90s, as the lower city developed and buildings in the Old City became more and more decrepit, Tanàna Ambony lost its cachet and people began to move out. This launched a vicious circle of accelerating deterioration and neglect. Today, the challenge is to once again make the Old City a place where people are eager to live and invest. PSOC interventions to rehabilitate public infrastructures such as the market and stairways, as well as support for small businesses that create employment in the community (home stay opportunities, the local café, and crafts outlets) all contribute to the economic health of the community.

Public market before rehabilitation...	...after rehabilitation
Local business provide tourists with amenities and residents with jobs

The challenge is great… the opportunities immense. Won’t you please lend a helping hand? We are “patchwork” project that collects modest funds from multiple donors to implement our activities (we have no core funding or single major donor.) We are proud of our ability to make a big difference with even modest funding and are beginning to see significant synergies developing between our different interventions. 400€ will finance a roof…and as families reimburse their share we will roof a second house. Modest contributions of € 20 – € 50 will help us buy paint, repair a dangerous stairway, subsidize a family too poor to contribute financially … All of our interventions include significant participation by local residents. People wishing to contribute to PSOC activities are invited to contact us by e-mail to discuss the most effective way to help. We hope you will pay us a visit and would welcome your contribution to the box in the PSOC office, on the main walkway between the Snack and the Tranobiriky Church. We can assure you that your contribution will be well spent and will make an immediate and significant impact on this threatened historic site.