Model Healthy Villages
Waterborne illnesses account for more than 10% of all deaths in Madagascar each year, with diarrheal diseases among the leading causes of death for children under five.
The challenge is clear.
Reduce these preventable diseases by equipping communities with both the knowledge of safe hygiene practices and the means to put them into action—and sustain them over time.
The mission behind the Model Healthy Village (MHV) initiative.
Changing long-held beliefs around hygiene, especially in areas with high illiteracy rates, isn’t easy. Neither is reaching remote villages, where poorly maintained roads, crumbling bridges, and impassable terrain make even transporting latrine materials—gravel, cement, iron bars, ceramic units—a serious logistical feat, sometimes requiring canoes or rafts.
But with strong local leadership and a commitment to community education, the MHV model is working. In partnership with Rotary International, we’ve helped fund four Model Healthy Villages and have secured support for four more. Each village represents a sustainable step forward—powered by local leaders and built on knowledge, ownership, and long-term impact.
