Community scholars
Each year Blue Ventures hosts the Indopacific Marine Scholarship Programme, granting a scholarship to up to 18 Malagasy university students for an in-depth six week training course in marine science and conservation research.
This programme has also been extended to community members who can become Community Scholars through a similar six week training course focusing on learning to SCUBA dive, ecological survey methods and species identification.
More than a dozen villagers have received their certification, including two who have reached the level of Dive Master. Bic Manahira has since become Madagascar’s first Open Water Scuba instructor.
Biographies of the Velondriake scholars for 2008-2009 can be read below:
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Edgar Andronic is 25 years old. He is from Lamboara and was previously a fisherman. Edgar joined the scholarship programme in June 2009 and is working on the SOCMON project. He also undertakes data entry and is the kids' club president in Lamboara. The aspect he likes most is working with computers.
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Joeline Jean-Baptiste is 23 years old. She is from Andavadoaka and was previously a sea cucumber collector. Joeline joined the scholarship programme in June 2009 and is working on the SOCMON project. She is also a sexual and reproductive health peer educator. Joeline most enjoys working with computers.
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Dominique (Alie) Razafisana is 22 years old. He is from Andavadoaka and was previously a student and fisherman. Alie joined the scholarship programme in June 2009 and is working on the SOCMON project. He also works on data entry. His favourite aspect is learning about marine biology.
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Danitsaiky William (Dany) Ralaitinimaro is 20 years old. He is from Toliara and was previously a student and fisherman. Dany joined the scholarship programme in February 2008 and is working on the SOCMON project. He also undertakes data entry and scuba diving. Dany most enjoys learning about marine biology.
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Lizantsy Tsimilesa (Tolotra) Tolojanahary is 25 years old. He is from Antsatsamaroy and was previously a sea cucumber collector. Tolotra joined the scholarship programme in February 2008 and is working as a diver as well as undertaking data entry.
Tolotra enjoys working with Blue Ventures for the education he is gaining and learning about marine biology.
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Bridgete Finy is 30 years old. She is from Andavadoaka and was previously a cook at the Manga Lodge restaurant and a fisherman. Bridgete joined the scholarship programme in February 2008 and is working as a diver as well as undertaking data entry. She enjoys the programme most for the diving.
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Albain (Samson) Samson is 24 years old. He is from Tampolove and was previously a fisherman. Samson joined the scholarship programme in February 2008 and is working as a diver as well as undertaking data entry. Samson most enjoys the community development aspect of the projects.
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Sakira Izidoro is 26 years old. He is from Vatoavo and was previously a skin diver and seasonal migrant fisherman. Sakira joined the scholarship programme in February 2008 and is working as a diver as well as undertaking data entry. Sakira most enjoys the diving. |
