Joey’s Gift to Madagascar

Update: November 2016

New pictures from Joey Moscovitch of JHA Fund.
Taken in and around the Antalaha region.
jhafund.com

For the past several years Aust & Hachmann (Canada) has been sponsoring an NGO, JHA FUND run by Joey Moscovitch, who has selflessly given years of her time in order to help the people of Antalaha in the vanilla region of the Northeast coast of Madagascar. A few years back we introduced Joey to the people who operate CALA which helps resettle people afflicted by leprosy who have been cast out by their communities. Aust & Hachmann (Canada) has supported CALA for over 15 years and a vibrant community village called “Belfort” has grown on the outskirts of Antalaha. Down  the road from the village of Belfort a nature reserve known as Macolline has also been developed . Macolline serves both as a tourist destination and as an educational platform for the people of Antalaha and the surrounding area.

Joey’s work on the ground includes  facilitating and organizing local school children on field trips to Macolline to learn about sustainable environmental practices, employing people of the village of Belfort to act as guides and to maintain Macolline, teaching English, creating her own website which details not only her work but also the very positive synergies between Macolline and CALA and how both organizations have benefitted from each other. We encourage readers to visit all three of these sites in order to see the incredible benefits they have provided to the communities and surrounding areas.  New support is always welcome.

Joey’s work does not stop when she is back in Montreal as she continually engages with communities locally and abroad.  Joey recently was awarded a grant by the U.S. Embassy in Madagascar in support of the environmental activities at Macolline.  She has also enlisted the support of The Missouri Botanical Gardens which has been active in Madagascar for years. They have confirmed the existence of a new plant species recently discovered at Macolline which will increase visibility for Eco-Tourism.  Macolline can now be found on Trip Advisor under “things to do while visiting Antalaha”.

We are now helping Joey, with the support of the mayor of Antalaha, organize a container load of donated goods which will be distributed to local communities in and around Antalaha. With Joey’s tireless efforts soliciting communities in and around Montreal and with the support of Aust & Hachmann (Canada) we have put together a container of goods which will include amongst other things much needed medical equipment, (wheelchairs, crutches, canes etc.), computers, garden and workshop tools, bicycles, scooters, clothing, shoes, toys for children,  books, educational tools etc. I A complete packing list of all items to be included in the container is available on our website. With a bit of luck, the container will arrive in time for the upcoming holiday season. Aust & Hachmann (Canada) is proud to have covered all logistical and shipping costs. In addition, A&H have contributed 300 new soccer balls, and hundreds of new T-shirts, Polo shirts and hats.

Contents of the Most Recent Donation by Joey Moscovitch & Aust & Hachmann Canada LTD

24 boxes of used books and encyclopedia
71 boxes of used clothes and shoes for men/women/kids, hats, caps, belts and other fashion accessories
10 boxes of new t-shirts with Macolline and A&H logo (650 t-shirts)
6 boxes of new soccer balls with Macolline and A&H logos (300 soccer balls)
2 boxes of new baseball caps with Macolline and A&H logos (200 baseball caps)
9 boxes of used computers, printers, dvd players, keyboards, cameras, laptops
11 boxes of toys and games for kids
4 boxes of used purses, suitcases, backpacks and school bags
9 boxes of school supplies, office supplies, medical supplies, and kitchen supplies

11 boxes of toys and games for kids
4 boxes of used purses, suitcases, backpacks and school bags
9 boxes of school supplies, office supplies, medical supplies, and kitchen supplies
5 boxes of sports equipment
8 boxes of bed sheets, pillows,
towels and linens
2 fans
1 grass cutter

5 rakes
3 shovels
1 rocking horse for kids
11 bicycles for adults
8 bicycles for kids
4 scooters for kids
1 book shelf
7 walkers
26 pairs of crutches
12 walking canes
2 mattresses
1 filing cabinet

Vessel Departure: October 2016
Vessel Arrival: December 2016