Ala Buissonnière

What We Do

Ala Buissonnière inspires, educates, and feeds children in Madagascar through teaching programs and the cultivation of a botanical garden.

The goal of Ala Buissonnière is to strengthen children’s reading and writing skills. We also aim to teach children how to analyze and reason so that they can make well-considered and balanced decisions. These skills are necessary for them to have a broad perspective on their lives and to make decisions that are environmentally sustainable.

The organization was officially formed in June 2024. The headquarters are in Antananarivo, but our education work occurs is in the sub-districts of the Ampasimpotsy commune.

How We Protect Lemurs and Other Wildlife

Education

Our education programs improve the outcomes for all lemur species by teaching children how to rebuild the forest and preserve it. Our reading workshops introduce children to think tank exercises that encourage them to take sustainable actions in forest reconstruction.

Our recent survey found that 70% of EPP students stop studying at grade T5. At this young age, they leave school to help their parents make lard and charcoal. While these activities are not sustainable, their parents do not know any other way to earn a living. As a result, the forests protected by the people in our area are being destroyed. It is necessary to sensitize children while they are still in school to limit deforestation.

Botanical Garden

Our botanical garden is a model of agroforestry and a laboratory for discovery, learning, and observation. It also showcases biodiversity to inspire our children. These initiatives are gradually being enriched to anchor themselves in sustainability.

How We Support Local Communities

Through education and capacity building, Ala Buissonnière is educating the next generation of Malagasy. While these children know about lemurs, many have never seen one. Introducing them to lemurs and other parts of nature opens their minds to how each species contributes to the environment.

In order to strengthen reading, writing and thinking skills, we use books and games focused on the forest. The books take the children on a journey through Madagascar with stories about lemurs. LCN’s lemur cards reinforce the books, and help the children learn about the many species, their foods, and their habitat.

Each month, the children follow the development of the Botanical Garden, practicing research to increase the types of plants that the lemurs and other animals eat, and observing the plants’ growth.