School At Vamizi
School at Vamizi
Developing basic education and health facilities
Vamizi island in 2006 was more than 2 days away from the provincial hospital, a sailing trip of 6-12h from either of the district hospitals and 3-6h from the nearest health center. Obviously, health care was a major issue for the population. The health center with medical support and the patrol CCP boat used as an ambulance came to solve part of the basic health needs. There was no school in Vamizi when the tourism company started operating in 2003. First they supported the request of a teacher from the education department to Vamizi. Following that, the company raised the funds for the construction of a school in 2008. This was a major improvement to the children’s lives.
These two events, spearheaded by the tourism company, and later supported by the UniLúrio, were the foundation for the support of the communities to the LMMA.
Donors interested in working together with the communities; willing to give a health center and a school in exchange of creating a protection zone provided with scientific support.
All health& education efforts need to be coordinated with government to integrate the private efforts into the larger program of the government, to avoid that the village receives less or more than the government plans (notoriously better health& education can attract people to the area, and excess population can jeopardize the conservation effort and LMMA).