Football celebrations, Vezo style

Everything super here - volunteers happy, staff on good form, village in good spirits. Flotilla of pirogues with flags and singing Vezo came cruising up past the staff beach yesterday - turned out it was the Andavadoaka village football team plus many others who were back from Ambatamilo, a village in the south, with news of a famous victory - Andavadoaka are football champions, having beaten Salary one-nil! Everyone in the village turned out to greet the conquering heroes and Bic, Mr Roger and myself went cruising up and down in front of the beach on the motorised pirogue with 20 excited Club Alo Alo children singing and drumming on the sides (Club Alo Alo had gone with the team to perform at the event). Great fun.

There was also a big party in the village last night with Coco, Roger, Nahoda, footballers and half the village present - I gave a short speech of congratulations with Daniel's help translating and then Club Alo Alo sang a song in Blue Ventures' honour. I also offered to match the football prize money in order that everyone could have a drink to celebrate! -Alex (BV Project Coordinator)