Voices of Change: Oral Testimony of the Antonosy People

The book, "Voices of Change: Oral Testimony of the Antanosy People", was produced by Andrew Lees Trust (ALT) in collaboration with Panos London to enable villagers in coastal communities of the Androy and Anosy regions of Madagascar to share their experiences and knowledge about economic poverty and the environment, and to give voice to their views. The testimonies are part of Project HEPA (Hetahetam-Po Ambara - "Proclaim what is in your heart"). In this book, villagers express their feelings of powerlessness as they struggle to grow food in changing climate conditions and as they lose their lands and access to the forests that are a vital part of their survival. The stories reveal that the natural resources at their disposal are increasingly restricted, causing serious impacts on livelihoods and food security for their families and their future.

The objectives of this publication are to: open up debate at all levels; widen the audience of the Antanosy people by employing different media; demonstrate the importance of communication in the rapidly changing development scenario; and promote the enfranchisement of the most vulnerable within local decision-making processes.