Youth involvement is one of the cornerstones of the HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infection awareness campaigns that Ambatovy oversees in communities near our operating sites. Ten kiosks, constructed in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), provide local youth with a space to gather, exchange information and provide one another with support. The kiosks are managed by 20 peer educators – all trained by Ambatovy – who share information about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections. The kiosks are now under the management of the Regional Direction of Youth, which supports and coaches the young peer educators.
In 2017, Ambatovy funded refresher training for the peer educators in the area around our operations and provided some equipment for the kiosks, like musical instruments and games.
These youth-related initiatives are part of Ambatovy’s Zero Tolerance Program, established to protect children and fight against child sexual exploitation. All Ambatovy personnel, as well as contractors, have signed a policy document to affirm their commitment to this important effort.
Also in partnership with UNICEF, Ambatovy constructed four eco-friendly schools, and provided support for the development of an environmental education program. VOAHARY VOAKAJY, a local non-governmental organization, is now operating the schools, teaching environmental and conservation courses to students in the surrounding area. More than a thousand students have benefitted from this program to date.
