This project supports a total of six communities in the southwest of Madagascar on their way to sustainable access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.
Hygiene practices in households, schools and health centres are also being improved. This leads to a significant improvement in people's health. Innovative approaches such as involving the private sector in the planning and creation of a functioning water system are being used. The project is aimed at the population of six communities (around 60,000 people) who will benefit from improved water management. Around 20,000 people will now have access to a water connection within close proximity. 
Over a period of three years, FILL ME AG financed the planning and implementation of water supplies and sanitation facilities in seven schools in the Miandrivazo district with very generous drinking water donations:
• In the Dabolava and Soanafindra schools in the Dabolava municipality
• EPP Central School of the municipality of Ankilizato (EPP stands for Ecole primaire public)
• in the Andramanonga and Iharamy schools in the Ambohimanambola municipality
• Antanimenabe School of the Masindray municipality
• Ambalahonko School in the municipality of the same name , Ambalahonko
Construction work was completed at the end of 2022 and the water supplies were handed over to the school directorates in a ceremonial ceremony. In total, around 1,215 schoolchildren and 39 teachers have been given access to clean drinking water and sanitary facilities.
All water systems consist of a concrete water tank with a main water connection. Large handwash basins with 6 water taps each were installed on the school premises - easily accessible for all schoolchildren and teachers. All 4 schools also received 6 latrines and a shower each. The work was put out to public tender before a local service company was commissioned. In the long term, 31,500 children will have access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities over the years. 
In addition to the implementation of the water supplies, activities to raise awareness among schoolchildren and teachers about good hygiene practices were systematically carried out. In small groups, the schoolchildren were informed and trained about careful hand washing, handling drinking water and other hygiene measures. Helvetas also used these training sessions to teach schoolchildren and teachers about protection against COVID-19. To protect the population, the government repeatedly took measures and took Covid-19 very seriously.
The borders were closed until early November 2021. International flights were possible, but not frequent due to low demand. Tourism, an important economic sector, remained in decline. Schools were always open, with classes divided into smaller groups to reduce the risk of infection. Since March 5, 2022, all Covid-19 measures have been lifted.
The project team is increasingly seeing economic and social consequences of the pandemic. The poverty rate (income below 1.9 USD/day) has risen from 74 to 80 percent. The ongoing drought in the south of the country has further exacerbated the already difficult food situation. This makes it all the more important to be able to carry out the project measures on site and thus give more schoolchildren access to clean drinking water. Because water means life: clean drinking water improves and protects health, gives children the opportunity to go to school permanently, strengthens the local economy and enables a better future.
