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Netcomp II Photos

These are a group of villagers from the village of Ankazoambo. They are holding up the coupons distributed by the OSI team.

Typical mud and brick house in one of the 21 villages. The family usually lives on the top floor while their animals are kept on the ground floor. These homes usually have two rooms, one with a kitchen and the other a bedroom with a couple of beds or mattresses.

Villagers waiting to redeem their coupons for the nets. OSI's staff gave out over 600 nets in only three hours during market day! Clearly mosquito nets are in high demand, if only people could afford them...

This woman just redeemed her coupon for a mosquito net. Her neighbors have asked her to redeem their coupons as well.. Only one coupon was given out to each household in the villages and each coupon entitled the household to pick up one free net. She looks happy to now own a net that would usually be too expensive ($1.50) for her to afford.

Rice farming, near Soamanandray. Rice farming is the main agricultural activity in rural Madagascar. Over 70% of Malagasy live in rural areas and are at risk of developing malaria from the mosquitoes that breed in the water used to irrigate the rice fields they rely on for their daily meals. Notice the use of cattle to plow the fields as modern fertilizers and tractors are not a feasible option for these poor farmers.

Skeptical clientele near Alatsinainy. The sight of a "vazaha" (Malagasy word for foreigner) walking towards the village usually creates quite a stir. These girls are taking care of their mothers' children while their mothers are out working in the fields. Many children are not able to go to school because they are needed to help around the house. Girls will typically fetch water, help cook and take care of younger siblings while boys tend cattle in the fields.

Children in Fonenantsoa. While the parents are out in the fields, the younger children busy themselves in the village with games and the older ones are in charge of selling rice cakes (in the bowl on top of the chair) to passers-by on the road.

Alison and Paul in their "office" in Ambalavao. Over a cup of mint tea and banana flavored rice cakes, they are discussing some new project idea or puzzling over how to create sustainable solutions that enlist people in improving their own futures.