Basic HTML Version
P A G E 7
V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 2
The U.S. Embassy in Madagascar
continues to support the importance of
environmental projects around the country.
One of the embassy’s new initiatives is the
Mobile American Cultural Center (MCC)
which is a mobile library including many
actual books as well as large video displays,
laptop computers and Kindle e-book
readers. The goal of the MCC is to promote
interest in the environment as well as the
English language. Our project was asked by
the embassy to host the MCC in Sambava
(where it will stay for 30 days) and arrange
for all preparations, including the inaugural
ceremony and reception.
Preparations have been underway for
weeks for this large display which weighs
nearly 2000 lbs. and arrived by truck in over
50 boxes. Radio announcements we designed in Malagasy have been airing for weeks inviting people to visit the
MCC, which is free and open to the general public. A formal ceremony was held with 50 local dignitaries including
leaders from the regional government, businesses and non-profit organizations. It was gratifying that the ceremony
and reception were very well attended, and raised considerable interest and awareness in the new DLC SAVA
Conservation initiative which is represented by several large posters, copies of the newsletters, videos of films
playing, and our team members regularly onsite assisting visitors. Each day since the opening, between 50 and 100
visitors pass through, many of whom have expressed real thanks to DLC for sincere efforts to save the deteriorating
local environment and many threatened lemurs in this region.
S A V A C O N S E R V A T I O N
Mobile American Cultural Center Rolls Into Sambava
SAVA Conservation's Lanto Andrianandrasana speaking at the exhibit's
opening ceremony.
By Erik R. Patel, Ph.D., DLC Post-Doctoral Project Director, SAVA Conservation