The Sifaka and the Babakoto

This is a funny fairytale from Ampanirio, the environment book. It is written by Sarah, 12 years old and translated into English.

The Sifaka and the Babakoto

One day the lemurs Babakoto and Sifaka talked to each other.

Sifaka: Tell me, my friend. Why is your tail so short?
Babakoto: That’s the way I like it, and don’t you know that this is exactly the fashion this season?
Sifaka: Then I will go to the hair dresser and cut mine like yours.
Babakoto: That’s good! Will I see you then in the evening?
Sifaka: It depends. Bye!

In the evening:

Babakoto: Hello Mrs. Sifaka. It is you going to the marked tonight and not Mr. Sifaka?
Mrs Sifaka: He is very ill, Mr. Babakoto!
Babakoto: Ill?
Mrs. Sifaka: You know, this fashion of yours, it is really dangerous. He went to the hairdresser and his tail was cut off together with the hair.
Babakoto: Really? How would he get such an idea? Stupid!
Mrs. Sifaka: Bye, I have to go.
Babakoto: Isn’t Mr. Sifaka’s birthday party tomorrow?
Mrs. Sifaka: Indeed. That’s why I bring all this food now. See you tomorrow.

Next day:
All the lemurs are gathered.

Sifaka: This I want to tell you, my friends. First of all I greet every one of you. Remember this: When God made us Sifaka with a long tail, please don’t try to do something else, even if it’s fashion. Look at me. I wanted to have a tail like Babakoto, and it was cut totally off. So please be satisfied with what is given you!

News about the geographic picture book

We have now completed all the texts for the geographic picture book and they are sent out for correction. The layout and processing of photographs is about to finish and we have begun the negotiations with the printing house in Antananarivo.

There are some minor changes from the last information we posted about this book. It will contain 68 and not 52 pages and even more photographs than estimated. The target group will be somewhat older students than first considered – from 11 to 15 years, but it can still be used together with children in primary school. We think that it even might be quite interesting to read for students in upper secondary school and teachers.

In addition to the information about each province: major towns, the nature and environmental problems, mountains, lakes and rivers and occupation of most people (agriculture, industry, etc.), we have included the story of an adolescent living in each province (4 of 6 have now been finished). We also write about special topics like for example eco-tourism and the pirate tales from the east end north.

We have estimated the print of the book to be finished in June.



Page 60 and 61 from the chapter about the northern province Antsiranana.

455 of 3000 Uncle Tefys are distributed

We have begun the distribution of the book Uncle Tefy. 15 copies are on their way to Germany right now and 455 copies have been distributed to Malagasy children.

We plan to have a public launching of the book in the center of Toliara city next week.

Happy New Year

We in Vakoka Vakiteny want to wish all of you a happy new year 2011!



For us this year will hopefully be full of activities and we estimate at least 3 or 4 manuscripts to be ready for print and distribution within next new-year. We also hope to find more people who support our work. Therefore we also will try to be more active on this blog.

Christmas markeds in Baden-Baden

Member of the association and long-standing supporter of Vakoka Vakiteny, Mrs. Christel Schelshorn recently participated on two Christmas markets in Baden-Baden. Here she sold handicraft from Madagascar and told about our work for Malagasy literature. She will also contribute on a third marked on December 11.

Mrs. Schelshorn also received generous support from the German-French society in Baden-Baden and the association “Eine-Welt-Verein Keniahilfe”.

We want to thank Mrs. Schelshorn and her associates for the great job in collecting money and spreading information about Vakoka Vakiteny.

The stand together with the “Eine-Welt-Verein”

 Mrs. Schelshorn (r.) here together with the German-French society

Covering of the north of Madagascar for the gepgraphic picture book

Currently we have a co-worker in the northern part of Madagascar doing researches for the geographic picture book. He is now visiting the northeastern coast where there are vanilla and coffee plantations. The north is also very famous for its mixture of people from different cultures, fusion between traditional, colonial and modern culture and architecture, and beautiful coastline and mountains.

Our co-worker called recently telling that the work goes well, but that it rains very much. The northeastern coast is also very well-known for its bad roads and heavy rain. Still we believe that he will be able to finish his researches and bring back new knowledge, pictures and other important material for the manuscript.

Green literature workshop 2

On Tuseday November 16 we had a final meeting and a goodbye party for the green workshops. The results we have after end of the literature workshop are short stories, fairytales, funny stories, poems, fact texts and jokes written in Malagasy by the young participants from 10 to 25 years. Unfortunately we will not be able to include all the about 40 texts in the book, and it is now our work to sort out which texts to publish. This is a very difficult work as many texts are well written and have a clear environmental message.

The book which will contain the chosen texts is going to have 32 pages, hardcover and colorful pictures also made by the youth. It will be printed on recycled paper. The target group for the book is estimated to be from 12 to 14 years. A preliminary title for the book is “Ampanirio” which has a double meaning: “let it grow” and “hope”. It is also the title of one of the poems which will be included in the book.

We have not yet decided the picture for the front cover of the book, but one of the suggestions is this:

This book will not be sold on the free marked, but distributed to green schools and youth organizations in Madagascar. The expenses will be covered by Green Living in Stavanger through the association in Germany.