At 31, Jean Victori Tombozafy, lives in the city of Antsiranana, also known as Diego-Suarez, in Madagascar’s northern region. He worked for a long time as a day labourer, taking on a series of precarious jobs in the construction sector. “Depending on the project, I could earn between 10,000 and 30,000 Ariary per day (about $7). But there were good days and bad days,” he explains.
His situation changed completely when he joined the vocational training programme offered by UNESCO as part of its BIOCOM project. This initiative aims to create economic alternatives for communities living in and around Madagascar’s national parks, to prevent the destructive use of forest resources and support biodiversity conservation. Jean Victori completed a practical training programme in metalwork, supplemented by on-site refresher courses and the provision of basic equipment.
After the training we received, we are preparing to do internships to refine our skills. We will also be equipped with the necessary tools. My plan is to open my own metalworking workshop, which will provide me with a more regular income.
In Jean Victori’s community, near the Montagne des ç Reserve, many young people face challenges in completing education and accessing training. Half of all those who enter secondary school fail to obtain a diploma. Lacking opportunities, many turn to the direct exploitation of resources in the surrounding national parks, often in unsustainable ways.
Similar anthropogenic pressures also threaten the integrity of the other two BIOCOM project sites: Marojejy National Park and Andohahela National Park. Both parks are located in the which have been on the List of World Heritage in Danger since 2010 due to the pressures they face as a result of unsustainable human activity.
UNESCO’s vocational training programmes offer new economic opportunities to young people in the region, giving them access to alternative careers aligned with environmental protection efforts in their area. This helps prevent unsustainable local practices, such as illegal logging, excessive use of firewood, and slash-and-burn agriculture.
For Jean Victori, the impact of these training programmes extends beyond him personally.
Thanks to these vocational training programmes, we are now ambassadors to young people in our villages that other careers exist and are accessible. We raise awareness by taking them outside the confines of our villages.
Financial security for a young mother
Jacqueline Rasoloniaina lives in the rural community of Mahavanona, in the village of Andranomanitra, on the outskirts of the Montagne des ç Reserve. Like Jean Victori, she is one of 63 young people in the area who are benefitting from UNESCO’s vocational training. After obtaining her secondary school diploma, Jacqueline had to abandon her studies due to financial difficulties. To support her 4-year-old daughter, she sold homemade pastries from a stall in front of her house, an activity that required the daily use of firewood.
We were offered several trade apprenticeships: metalworking, multi-skilled masonry, horn and coconut training, basketry, tour guiding, and even cooking. For my part, I chose masonry, a profession that women can easily pursue.
Today, the young mother is preparing for a post-training internship to refine her skills and position herself in the job market. She plans to build her own house on land inherited from her parents.
Thanks to the skills acquired through this training, I've put an end to street sales and the consumption of firewood. With my new job, new sources of sustainable income and long-term plans are now within reach.
