Sunshine is our business.

In Miarinarivo, Madagascar, German-born Stefan Büschelberger and his Madagascan wife Yvette Randrianomanana launched the Antseranantsoa, or “safe haven”, project in 2004. The aim is to enable children and young people from rural areas to attend school, thereby providing an alternative to child labour. Centrosolar supports the project with solar power at cost price.

Help for 220 children

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries on Earth. There is barely any clean drinking water in rural areas, energy provision is insufficient and just under half of Madagascan children at primary school age regularly attend lessons. Around just 15% of children attend secondary school, as most are forced to work to support their families.
With free school meals, a hall of residence and an adjacent education centre, the Antseranantsoa project ensures basic provision for 220 children and young people, thereby creating a framework for successful school attendance over and above basic literacy.

Solar power for the education centre

In order to provide schools and residential buildings with a reliable supply of electricity and water, and reduce the strain on Madagascar’s severely threatened natural environment, Antseranantsoa is backing environmentally friendly, renewable energies. In 2008, Centrosolar provided a high-performance solar energy installation at cost price, consisting of twelve photovoltaic modules and with a total capacity of 1,320 Wp. The installation provides lighting in the dormitory, hall, library and utility rooms. Thus pupils are not at the mercy of power failures as a result of the unreliable supply network.

You can find out more about the Antseranantsoa project and the Verein Ny Hary e.V. (Ny Hary Association) at: www.ny-hary.org