Monday, July 26, 2010

Markt der Möglichkeiten, Schopfheim

Vakoka Vakiteny participated on the market of opportunities in Schopfheim last Sunday. Situated in the old Kulturfabrik (“culture factory”), this Africa bazaar showed a wide range of ways to support Africa where our initiative was one of it. Around 10 associations or projects had built up their stands where they told about their work, showed pictures and sold articles.


The stand of Vakoka Vakiteny contained many different items; Malagasy handicraft, vanilla and canella, t-shirts and information material. It was decorated with many pictures of Malagasy children and we exposed some of our books. People were very interested in our work in Madagascar, so many of them also contributed with donations. We were also interviewed by the free radio channel Kanal Ratte. This interview will be sent on the radio frequency 104.5 (UKW) / 89.35 (cable) this week or on their web page www.kanal-ratte.de.



It was a very pleasurable day and we had many inspiring conversations with people. We want to thank Mrs. Marion Kienzler, cashier of the association “Madagaskar Schul- und Kinderbücher e.V.” in particular for preparing everything for the marked and Dr. Klaus-Christian Küspert for driving us and covering the petrol expenses from east Bayern to Schopfheim and back.

Dance: Mparany as Dangaligny, Tojo as Konaky, and Sophie

Friday, July 23, 2010

Visit at Cadolzburg elementary school

Today, July 23 the team of Vakoka Vakiteny, together with Dr. Küspert, presented Madagascar and our work for around 80 9 year old children in Cadolzburg near Fürth/ Nürnberg. The focus of the presentation was children in the world, so we showed pictures and told about the everyday lives of children in Madagascar – work, school and leisure time. The children were very interested, and the presentation actually was a conversation with the children.
 


Tojo and Mparany played a scene from the book “Dangaligny and Konaky”, and we danced to Malagasy music. After 60 minutes and end of the presentation, the children almost refused to go to brake, but they still wanted to ask a lot of questions about Madagascar and the books.

It was a really great experience to be in such a close dialogue with the children. Thank you all!


Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Article about Vakoka Vakiteny presentation

Article and pictures from our presentation in Bühl on the Schüttekeller web page (in German). A big thank you to their web master, Mr. Klaus Zimmermann.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Events in Baden-Baden, part 4

Friday July 16 at the Bookstore Mäx und Moritz, Sophienstraße 9, Baden-Baden

The last event in Baden-Baden was again in Mrs. Wasserburger’s bookstore, and this time the presentation about our work was for adults. Mrs. Christel Schelshorn made a small introduction before the presentation because she has been the connection between Mrs. Wasserburger and the team of Vakoka Vakiteny.

During our presentation we told about Madagascar, history, language, nature – and of course our literature work. Sophie also read a small passage of the book Dangaligny and Konaky.
After the presentation we had many interesting discussions together with people from the audience, and we were very glad to see representatives from the French German society there too. We received donations and recruited members for the association “Madagaskar Schul- und Kinderbücher” supporting Vakoka Vakiteny. Thank you all for a nice evening.
Discussions after the presentation: Mparany, new member of the association Mrs. Carina Moser, Mrs. Wasserburger, Sophie, Klaus-Christian Küspert and Tojo.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Events in Baden-Baden area, part 3

Friday July 16 at the Albert Schweitzer Gymnasium, Gernsbach

The cooperation between the Albert Schweitzer Gymnasium and Madagascar is not new, and the school has done much aid for the country already. Mparany visited this school when he was in Germany in 2005, and he was very glad to be back again. However, this is the first time that Vakoka Vakiteny is in contact with the school.


When we came to the school in the morning we were received by French teacher Mrs. Beatrix Rauffmann also responsible for the north-south relations at the school, and the school director Mr. Stefan Beil. But the idea to invite Vakoka Vakiteny originates from the former headmaster, Mr. Willig who also was present at the school.


The team from Vakoka Vakiteny explained about the work among the Malagasy children for two school classes in the school canteen. We were very surprised and happy that so many pupils had questions and comments about what we had told, and we tried to answer them as best as possible.
Everyone is dancing Malagasy dance: pupils, Dr. Küspert, Mrs. Rauffmann and Mr. Willig


After the second presentation Vakoka Vakiteny received a check on 2000 € from the deputy school director Mr. Dietmar Laux. The money had been collected through a run arranged by the school and completed by the pupils.


We promise the school to send regular information about the work and the use of the money. Thank you very much!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Events in Baden-Baden area, part 2

Thursday July 15 at the Schüttekeller in Bühl


Vakoka Vakiteny was invited to the association “Eine-Welt-Verein Keniahilfe” in Bühl Thursday evening. Head of this association, Mr. Hansjörg Willig arranged this event, and we were much honored to be there.

We also received high guests from the Malagasy embassy in Berlin; business wearer Léa Raholinirina and counselor Brigitte Rasoanirina. We want to thank them for their coming.

Our team, together with Dr. Klaus-Christian Küspert, presented the work in Madagascar and the situation the country now is in, concerning language, education, environment and politics.

Vakoka Vakiteny received a check on 4000 € from the association Keniahilfe, which was handed over by Mr. Willig. We were totally baffled, but of course very glad to be given such a large sum. Thank you. We will use the money well!

Article written by Philipp Rauffmann for Badisches Tagblatt about this evening:

Friday, July 16, 2010

Events in Baden-Baden, part 1

Thursday July 15 at the Bookstore Mäx und Moritz, Sophienstraße 9, Baden-Baden


Vakoka Vakiteny presented the publishing company for the pupils from two classes from the Vincenti elementary school in Baden-Baden together with their teachers Mrs. Karin Soukup and Mrs. Ursula Groß. Vakoka Vakiteny also received a gift from the class fund.

Mparany and Tojo played a scene from the book Dangalingy and Konaky, and we danced together with the children. We also showed pictures from Madagascar and talked with the children about our work.

We want to thank the owner of the bookstore, Mrs. Marianne Wasserburger for inviting the school and permitting us to use her premises.


Tojo dancing with Dangaligny and the children.

Explanation about a book: Pupil, teacher Karin Soukup and Tojo.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Buffet together with the French-German society

This evening the team of Vakoka Vakiteny was invited to a dinner buffet together with the French-German society in Baden-Baden celebrating the French national day July 14. This association was also the one arranging the old-timer meeting last weekend which Vakoka Vakiteny had the pleasure to join.
 

It was a very nice and interesting evening together with French and German people. Vakoka Vakiteny got the chance to hand over a painting and some gifts from Madagascar and the society wished the team good luck and much success in Madagascar.
Vakoka Vakiteny handing over the painting:
Secretary Mr. Dr. Stier and Vice President Mr. Kesselhut together with the Vakoka Vakiteny team.

We want to thank the French-German society for the hospitality and support.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Old-timer meeting in Baden-Baden

Vakoka Vakiteny had a stand at the famous old-timer meeting in the German city Baden-Baden Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th of July. We were selling handmade cars made from old tin cans in Madagascar and other Vakoka Vakiteny products. People were very friendly, and there was still quite much activity at the old-timer meeting despite the heat (40°C)!




Vakoka Vakiteny will also be part of a buffet on Wednesday 14th arranged by the German-French society also organizing the old-timer meeting.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Vakoka Vakiteny meeting Baobab Books in Basel

Yesterday July 9th the team of three from Vakoka Vakiteny went to Basel to meet with Mrs Sonja Matheson from Baobab Books Publisher. Baobab Books publish books in the German speaking world written by Asian, African and Latin-American writers promoting diversity and expressing the value of social migration.
 
Baobab Books are very interested in Vakoka Vakiteny and our work. We want to thank them for the interesting and motivating meeting where the base for further cooperation was set. Vakoka Vakiteny received the book “The amazing tree” by John Kilaka from Tanzania as a gift. This beautiful book will be an inspiration for our further work.
 

Hopefully there will soon be a close cooperation between Baobab Books and Vakoka Vakiteny.
 
More information about Baobab Books on http://www.baobabbooks.ch/en/.