George Abbot School Team 1

Sharing some drinks and saying goodbye at the end of a 6-night stay. (CL)

Sep. 17, 2012 text by Chad Lebo, photos by Chad Lebo and Dr. Chris Wiskin

Students helping students. The students of the Outlook Expeditions Team 1 from George Abbot School were able to do just that when they stayed with us for a 7-day service project in July. George Abbot's students were able to help our children by supplying the paint and the work to fix up 2 classrooms at a neighboring school that our secondary students will attend next year. Their hard work will not only benefit our students buy also the students from our village that also attend this school.

The generosity of 17 fine students and teachers did not end with painting. In addition to a large and appreciated donation of funds to support the children and programs of Akany Avoko, the group also brought along a substantial collection of soccer equipment. Some of the equipment was donated directly from the students and some was solicited from Manchester United football club.

In their short week of staying with us, our children bonded with the students from George Abbot. At the party to say thank you and goodbye to these wonderful young men and women, the students made one final donation of a bottle of Coke for each child. It was a special way to end a special week of service and friendship.

The hardworking team and 1 of the finished classrooms. (CW)

Connections: Sharing Resources and Volunteers

The team painting the wall at the pre-school at St. Joseph.

Sep. 12, 2012 text by Chad Lebo, photos by Kasia Bialous

Akany Avoko's newest mission is Sharing. This sharing includes everything from hosting a nation-wide conference for childcare centers to donating extra clothes to other deserving programs. One important aspect of the Sharing mission is sharing resources and connections with other centers.

We were grateful to host 7 different international student volunteer groups this past July and August. We wanted to share this bounty of support and volunteer workers. The George Abbot School Team 3 from Outlook Expeditions stayed at our center but completed a service project at the nearby St. Joseph school where many Akany Avoko students attend secondary school.

The generous and hardworking Team 3 from George Abbot School.

Outlook Expeditions: Kilgraston

First class face painting.

July 11, 2012 Text and Photos by Chad Lebo

School vacation has arrived. That means more kids around Akany. And not just our kids. This is the time of the year we host teenage student groups coming to Madagascar for trekking and volunteering. We will be hosting 7 groups this July and August.

We were proud to welcome the Kilgraston school as our first group of the season. Their Outlook Expeditions adventure brought them to Akany for 5 days. The 15 students and leaders spent a day seeing our village and the market and even learning a little Malagasy. Then they got to work.

They dipped some brushes and rolled some rollers as they painted the doors, windows and walls of the administrative office. In a few short days, the office looking beautiful and they moved on to freshening up the outside walls of the cafe.

Painting windows in the administrative office.