Public launching of Uncle Tefy

Today was the official launching of the book Uncle Tefy in Toliara city center near the market place. We made it very simple and brought the books in our car which we positioned on the place we had been given by the municipality.

We brought information material and books, and there were many people passing by to ask what we were doing. For most of them, children’s books in Malagasy language was a totally new thing, and they were very eager to hear more about our work. We also met representatives from schools and bookstores here in Toliara.

We have promised to be present at the same place almost every Saturday now, so that those who want to bring friends or colleagues can come and talk to us. We hope that we will be able to sell books and make negotiations concerning distribution during the next few Saturdays. We also plan to have readings for children here.

Translation of Todisoa

Vakoka Vakiteny is about to translate a German novel about the Malagasy street girl Todisoa, written by the author Nasrin Siege who lived for several years in Madagascar. Due to changes in the original manuscript we had a longer break in the translation work from November to February. Now we have begun the process of translation again and we have translated about a quarter of the book already.

This is a very challenging job, especially because the German and Malagasy languages are so totally different. But it is also interesting and exciting, and we are enjoying it very much.

Still we haven’t got means for developing the manuscript or printing the book. We want to do an authentic and approved translation which needs researches and thoroughly corrections, and a good quality print with black and white paintings. We want to sell it subsidized on the marked here in Madagascar and are therefore depending on donations through the association for schools and children’s books.

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