City of hope rises from Madagascar garbage site 6 September 2019, by Béatrice Debut friends" in Malagasy—three decades ago. The town it built on landfill on the outskirts of the capital Antananarivo has grown into a home, which locals dub "Cite Akamasoa," for more than 25,000 people. Its small pastel houses seem drawn from a fairy tale. Liva considers Pedro "the arm of God." "Under my feet used to be the dump," he said, walking along a neatly paved street lined with jacaranda trees. Hope from despair: The town built on rubbish When he was six, Liva spent his days rummaging around an enormous landfill overlooking the hills of Madagascar's capital Antananarivo. "You couldn't tell the humans from the pigs and dogs," he recalled. Thirty years later, Liva Louis de Gonzagues teaches mathematics. He says he owes his salvation to Father Pedro—a Children and waste pickers sift through garbage at a beloved Catholic figure who has helped to lift landfill near 'Cite Akamasoa' - 'Akamasoa Town' thousands of Malagasy out of misery. Fr. Pedro's association, Akamasoa, has constructed a town on a rubbish dump, making it a But stench and flies are a staunch reminder of the sanctuary, and built dozens of schools in neglected rubbish piled up nearby, which is many metres villages, providing education for children. (feet) thick. Pope Francis—who is touring Madagascar this Liva could by now have left, but he chose to stay week as part of his second trip to sub-Saharan and "give Akamasoa back what it gave me." Africa—is expected to stop at the town on Sunday as part of his visit. "These are people that no one would even acknowledge and who have regained their dignity," Pedro created Akamasoa—which means "good said Pedro, an Argentinian priest who has lived in 1 / 4 Madagascar for over 40 years. day's highlight. "We gave them a roof, an education, a job (and) "We are standing in for the state," said Father this hell became an oasis of hope." Pedro. Aged 71, with a snowy beard and sparkly blue "The state has a lot of money. Big bodies have a lot eyes, he is constantly tailed by a cloud of children. of money. Where does it all go?" he asked. Adults drop by to touch him and say hello. "I am in a constant state of revolt. I cannot accept 'Replaced the state' this poverty because it has been created by leaders." "(Father Pedro) picked us from the street. He is our Saviour," said Mampiomina Eloise Rasoanirina, 44, Since its independence from France in 1960, who works at one of Akamasoa's granite quarries. Madagascar is the only country in the world where poverty has increased despite the absence of war. "He is the second pope," piped Fara Lucy Rasoambolatiana, a school girl rescued when she Around three quarters of the island nation's 26 was six. million inhabitants live on less than two dollars per day. "Having enough to eat is an event," Pedro said. Father Pedro Opeka: People at Akamasoa call him 'Our saviour,' or 'The arm of God' Akamasoa sustains 18 villages, among them around 10,000 children. All of them have education, thanks to 37 The town's white walls contrast with the filth of schools the association has built since its founding Antananarivo's streets. Painted slogans say "No speaking, we are working." At the top of the hill, in a dormitory reserved for new Close to Jesus arrivals, old men abandoned by their families dozed in the sunshine after a meal. Hundreds of people in red blouses stood gathered in a gymnasium, queueing for a plate of rice or Around 2,000 families go to the association each pasta under the building's plastic roof. There are no month for help and its schools in the town have chairs or tables—everyone eats on the floor. over 14,000 pupils. School lunches are often their 2 / 4 Akamasoa relies on donations. Pedro has just carrying babies on their backs continue to sort returned from a trip to Europe to collect funds, through garbage in search of plastic and metal which he hopes will last for the next eight or nine scraps. months. "A forgotten population has stood up," said Pedro, "Some people in my religious community don't a man of God whose successor remains a mystery. understand me," said the Father, alluding to "But we remain very fragile." individuals who prioritise their "career" over charity. © 2019 AFP "But thanks to God, we have a Pope who loves the poor." Pedro holds occasional Sunday mass in the quarry, a lively event filled with dancing, singing and clapping. "Down there, I feel as if I am in the time of Jesus," he said. It would be "too hard" for the 82-year old Pope to descend into the quarry, explained Pedro, who was himself a pupil to Francis in Argentina. Standing room: Sunday mass with Father Pedro Despite Pedro's hard work, issues remain. Akamasoa's houses have no running water and salaries remain low at around 30 euros ($33) per month. And the banning of alcohol, drugs, gaming and prostitution is not enough to prevent regular outbursts of violence. To make ends meet, men, children and women 3 / 4 APA citation: City of hope rises from Madagascar garbage site (2019, September 6) retrieved 24 September 2021 from https://phys.org/news/2019-09-city-madagascar-garbage-site.html This document is subject to copyright. 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