2006–2026

What we have built

Every project here has a date, a place and a cost — including those that stopped for want of money. They are listed alongside the rest.

Fianarantsoa

Nine years from the first wall to the gate

The second orphanage, named after Marie-Louise Labaud. Work started in 2015, the gate was fitted in late 2024.

The Fianarantsoa orphanage in bare brick, under construction in 2015

2015Brick walls going up, no roof and no render.

The finished building with its perimeter wall in 2024

2024Finished, rendered, enclosed and secure.

Two houses, a thousand kilometres apart. We built the first orphanage in Toliara — also known as Tuléar — between 2009 and 2012, and the second in Fianarantsoa between 2015 and 2024. Every photograph here carries its town and its year.

The steps

More than twenty years, year by year

2006 — The beginning
45 kg of toys and clothes shipped to Madagascar. A pair of zebu bought instead of a motor plough: they do more jobs, and they need no fuel or spare parts from abroad.
2007 — First schools
240 kg of clothes and toys distributed around Fianarantsoa. Support for two schools and an orphanage, including plumbing work. First visit to Toliara.
2008 — The bridge
We rebuilt a bridge after the funding another organisation had promised in early 2007 failed to appear. Three villages were reconnected and food deliveries to the orphanage restored. We set up our Fianarantsoa committee in July. Read the site diary
2009 — Toliara, in a hurry
We set up our Toliara committee and started building an orphanage in June, because another institution was closing on 31 July. The children moved into two rooms on 30 July.€4,000 that year
2010 — Opening in Toliara
Officially opened in late June, filmed by national television. With thanks to our donors, to Laval and Mayenne town councils, and to the Coup d'Chœur choir in Laval.€11,000 committed by then
2011 — Earning an income locally
In Toliara the orphanage was extended to add a small shop, and a second shop was bought at the market, so that the house could earn part of its own keep. The cycle-rickshaw project was born the same year. Two schools, in Fianarantsoa and Antananarivo, got their first computers — two donated laptops. 200 kg of clothes and musical instruments. The 2011 journey
2012 — Toliara completed
Three cycle rickshaws bought, bringing in income for the orphanage. The orphanage in Besasavy, Toliara, was finished.€20,000 in total
2013–2014 — Land in Fianarantsoa
We looked for and bought the plot for the second orphanage.€2,000
2015 — Building begins
Work starts on the second orphanage and its school, in Fianarantsoa.
2016 — Rendering
The walls were rendered.
2017 — The halt
Work stopped for lack of funds. As the association put it at the time: “AMBEOKA is not a bank — we move forward as the money comes in.”
2018 — Marie-Louise Labaud
Work resumes and the orphanage opens, named after the mother of the association's treasurer.
2019–2024 — The main structure completed
Most of the building was finished, the perimeter wall built and the gate fitted in late 2024. Some finishing work remains.€35,438 to date
2022–2026 — Water: from a well to a water tower
Digging of a well began in 2022. Five boreholes were sunk, down to 25 metres: none found water. In 2026 the project was redesigned as a water tower built against the orphanage, followed by a treatment system to make the water safe to drink.2 × €3,000 to raise

Architect's elevation drawings of the orphanage

Before building

Drawn, costed, then supervised from start to finish

Nothing about the Fianarantsoa orphanage was improvised. The elevations were drawn, the builders' quotes obtained, and the work supervised stage by stage by our local committee.

Every payment was recorded on site as the work went on. To date the building has cost €35,438.

The Friendship Bridge, August 2008 Three villages reconnected. The volunteer who oversaw the work kept a diary, day by day. Much of it is reproduced here.

Read the diary

Toliara, 2009–2012