Madagascar: Water and Renewable Energy for the "Village des Sourires"

In the face of extreme vulnerability affecting street children in Antananarivo, access to essential services is a vital challengeIn the face of extreme vulnerability affecting street children in Antananarivo, access to essential services is a vital challenge. The fondation Veolia supports an initiative aimed at guaranteeing long-term sanitary and energy autonomy for the "Village des Sourires".

A secure residential center in Mérimandroso Anovorano

A child aid NGO based in Madagascar, the Association 2400 Sourires is dedicated to protecting highly vulnerable minors, particularly those living on the streets of the capital. The organization deploys a comprehensive approach combining fieldwork, psychosocial support, healthcare, and educationA child aid NGO based in Madagascar, the Association 2400 Sourires is dedicated to protecting highly vulnerable minors, particularly those living on the streets of the capital. The organization deploys a comprehensive approach combining fieldwork, psychosocial support, healthcare, and education. In the municipality of Mérimandroso Anovorano, it has established the "Village des Sourires," a secure residential center that takes in children through judicial placement to offer them a complete rehabilitation pathway, from family reintegration to professional training. The village operates under strict protective and monitoring standards mandated by the Malagasy ministries.

Autonomous water and energy infrastructure

Named "Source d'Espoir" (Source of Hope), the project aims to install autonomous water supply and renewable energy infrastructure within the "Village des Sourires," which is located in an area entirely lacking basic public services. The involvement of the fondation Veolia helps co-finance the engineering works and technical investments, including boreholes, HDPE piping networks, and the installation of five 10,000-liter storage tanksNamed "Source d'Espoir" (Source of Hope), the project aims to install autonomous water supply and renewable energy infrastructure within the "Village des Sourires," which is located in an area entirely lacking basic public services. The involvement of the fondation Veolia helps co-finance the engineering works and technical investments, including boreholes, HDPE piping networks, and the installation of five 10,000-liter storage tanks. To guarantee perfectly safe drinking water, a comprehensive purification system combining ceramic filters, sand filters, and UV disinfection is being deployed, with the cooperation of the Institut Pasteur Madagascar for water quality controls. Concurrently, the site’s energy independence (notably for powering the filtration and pumping systems) is secured through a 10 kVA solar kit combined with a wind power system.

Sustainable benefits

This infrastructure program will guarantee optimal and permanent sanitary conditions for nearly 520 direct beneficiaries, including 250 resident children, 150 external students, as well as staff and volunteers. Every facility on-site (housing, school, clinic, cafeteria) will benefit from these networksThis infrastructure program will guarantee optimal and permanent sanitary conditions for nearly 520 direct beneficiaries, including 250 resident children, 150 external students, as well as staff and volunteers. Every facility on-site (housing, school, clinic, cafeteria) will benefit from these networks. To ensure long-term sustainability, a local team of technicians is being trained in infrastructure maintenance for fully autonomous management. Finally, wastewater treatment and recycling systems will be used to irrigate the village farm's vegetable crops, thereby bolstering the center's overall food resilience.