Dear Kombas supporters,

We’re excited to share with you the first edition of our Sunshine in Nosy Komba newsletter! 🌞Starting now, we’ll be using this space to keep you more regularly updated on everything happening within the association and on the field.

In this first newsletter we want to show you:

• some highlights from 2024 trip to Nosy Komba

• remind you about the Rise&Shine Scholarship program

✨ 2024 Highlights from the field trip ✨

What a year it has been 2024! Here’s a look at the highlights you helped make possible:

🏫 New School Building Project Launched

Education remains at the heart of our mission. This year, we proudly laid the first stone of a new school building at Ecole Banana!

With student numbers growing from 300 to over 500 children — including about 100 boarding on campus — expanding the school has become essential.

The new building will host classrooms, laboratories for informatics, physics, and languages, and more dormitory and restroom space. Land preparation and safety work are underway, a vital step to protect the site from heavy rains and cyclones. It’s a major, long-term project — and with everyone’s support, we’re determined to make it a reality!

📚 First Teacher Training Session

Another exciting first this year was hosting our first professional teacher training session at Ecole Banana.

For three days, veteran teachers shared their experience with newer staff through lively discussions and workshops. This marks the start of our effort to transform Ecole Banana into a regional teacher training hub, strengthening the quality of education for Nosy Komba and beyond.

📖 Schoolbook Distribution to Neighbouring Schools

We produced and distributed 200 French practice books to three nearby primary schools. Our team personally delivered the books, met with teachers and students, and will follow up regularly to support their use — building stronger connections across the island.

🎓 Scholarships Changing Lives

We celebrated our biggest year yet for scholarships! ✅ 9 new university students ✅ 16 new high school students

Since 2019, this program has opened life-changing opportunities for students while boosting school retention and national exam success rates. The evening of celebration reminded us how education transforms communities.

👶 New Maternity Clinic in Antamotamo

One of our proudest achievements last year: we successfully opened a maternity and health center in Antamotamo village! This is our second maternity center.

Originally built by the city hall but left unused, we stepped in to complete, equip, and staff it in just two weeks. We installed solar lighting, clean water systems, beds, storage, and stocked it with medicine and supplies.

This is our first permanent presence outside Antintorona and marks the start of a one-year pilot project that will serve the community and that we hope to grow in the future.

💧 Clean Water Access & Fire Safety

Access to clean water remains a daily challenge in Nosy Komba, especially during longer dry seasons. After seeing the positive impact of last year’s water filtering system at the health center, this year we installed new filters at Ecole Banana and the new maternity clinic in Antamotamo.

To improve fire safety, we worked with the community to map key water sources, added connectors, and placed two 100-meter hoses in strategic locations. Fire safety maps are now posted across the village to guide quick action in emergencies.

Small, steady steps making a big difference!

🌞 Thank You!

Your generosity continues to make real, lasting change possible in Nosy Komba. We couldn’t do it without you — and we can’t wait to share what’s coming next this year..

Stay tuned — through this newsletter format, we’ll be bringing you regular updates on ongoing and new projects to keep you connected to the heart of our work in Nosy Komba.

The Sunshine in Nosy Komba Team