Dear DLISTers
I have received an authorisation from the local authority for going through with the festival plans for Maroantsetra in April 2011!
I have a big land which called “AMBINANY AMBODIFI RAHO”. It is in Maroantsetra country. Tourists from aboard want to find native Malagasy tourist operator who know the place and the nature well, rather than French or American operators. And there are many persons from others countries want to visit National Park especially “MASOALA” which has a great biodiversity. These people who come here often have many ideas on how to help Malagasy people by material by donating different things. But it is getting more difficult for Malagasy people to find funding for different projects. You all know that Madagascar has a big problem about political instability and government issues, which is very difficult.
Doing something to improve the situation here is very important and also difficult. I’m hoping that someone in the DLIST community might be able to connect me to a donor or someone who might be able to help me. I really need financial support to accomplish my project. According to my opinion you know that Maroantsetra is a good country, it has a National park which is very wonderful to see. And if the tourism industry increases in the area it will bring benefits to the people and that will reduce the illegal activities of logging in the national parks.
I also have a restaurant and a small guest house in Maroantsetra and I am used to working with tourists. I’m sure my ideas about this festival will be a great success. All the people I know here in and around Maroantsetra agree with this idea and especially my project in Maroantsetra area. They think the festival will be a good thing for this area.
My ambitions are to work together with a great numbers of people from others countries and hopefully get volunteers to assist. Please come and help me because I am poor in general but I want to improve the situation here in Madagascar.
Another way to help the people in Madagascar is to come here as a tourist and visit the place. I have planned a programme with trip for next year and I hope many people will come here and do these trips.
 I wish to do a festival “TSEMBOKA” in 2011 for 3 days, which includes a three day trek for 15 persons
 In May I prefer to receive 12 to 15 persons
 In June I prefer a group of 15 persons
 In July, 15 persons is enough
 From July to September every year I would like to have many tourists to look at the Antongil peninsula and bay in Maroantsetra, in order to see whales make the babies. I also plan to go to visit the island (Mangabe) which has very interesting environment. After that I plan a mission trekking to Antalaha.
 In November we look at National Park Masoala that it has many kinds of lemurs and other animals. After that I plan to go together to Mananara looking at the famous Aye- Aye lemur.
 In December, I plan to do a Christmas day and first year at the same place in Maroantsetra together.
Before I stop to write this post, I want to say that I wish to receive a lot of tourists to come to Maroantsetra during the coming year. Please contact me and come and see the beautiful nature we have in this area of Madagascar.

Best wishes,
TSIMANOVA Estan dit “Papa cyrille”