As a second project, we decided to help build the Banana school in Nosy Komba, Madagascar.
Nosy Komba is a small volcanic island in Madagascar. Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, where 70% of the population lives below the poverty line.
Approximately 4,500 people live on the island, concentrated in six villages along the coast. The population still largely lives in precarious conditions, without access to healthcare or education. In particular, basic services such as electricity, road infrastructure, and water supply are lacking. They receive support from several NGOs.
Sunshine in Nosy Komba is a non-profit volunteer organization based in the Netherlands since 2017 that has completed numerous projects to improve healthcare and education in cooperation with the local population and other NGOs.
Among the most important projects are the maternity hospital, the only one on the island, and the primary school.
A significant portion of the funds goes to paying the salaries of nurses and teachers and to student scholarships to ensure long-term education.
Transparency is the guiding principle: every € donated goes to the projects. Every summer, a group of volunteers travels there to the site to bring materials and support the various projects.
“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
Banana School
Banana school, managed by the Sunshine in Nosy Komba Foundation, is the main educational facility on the island of Nosy Komba. The current school campus includes a kindergarten, an elementary school, and a middle school, providing free, high-quality education to the population of the various villages of Nosy Komba.
The school also includes a cafeteria and dormitories. Banana school currently has over 500 students enrolled, 100 of whom are in a boarding programme and sleep and eat on campus.
The school project
The new school building will allow for the development of the first secondary school on the island of Nosy Komba. This will be a significant development for the educational aspirations of the island’s population, considering that most families do not have the means to send their children to secondary school on the nearby island of Nosy Be. The lack of educational prospects causes many students to drop out, unable to continue their studies at a higher institution. Construction began in spring 2025, and the goal is to host the first classes starting in September 2026. The main structure and roof of the building were completed last year, including areas for six classrooms and two dormitories (for girls and boys in the boarding school system). It is expected that the secondary school will gradually grow over the next three to four years, allowing for a total enrollment of 150-180 students when fully operational.
To complete the building and make it fully operational, funding will be needed to complete the work and also to build various auxiliary infrastructure. All labor costs are borne by local workers, while Sunshine’s work in Nosy Komba is entirely voluntary. All expenses are accounted for.
1) Energy infrastructure for the school’s electrification
Given the convenient location and size of the new building, the goal is to install a solar power system that can guarantee a stable electricity source for the entire campus, which houses up to 700 students and 28 teachers, dormitories, and the cafeteria.
Total: €10,000
2) Sanitary and Hygiene Building
A separate building with restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities for students and teachers.
Total: €12,000
3) Woodwork to complete the main building
9 doors, 12 windows, 48 solid wood three-seater benches. Total: €4,500
