My husband and I recently returned from an enlightening three months living in Madagascar.  During this journey we were hoping to experience what Eden Reforestation Projects is doing there, meet the people whose lives are affected by the project, and see if we would like to move ourselves there in the future.

Our experience exceeded our expectations, but we may have possibly left with even more questions.  What we learned the most, however, was from the interviews we did with The Eden Projects’ employees.  We interviewed about 80 of them, and had the privilege of being able to enter into their world.  We asked each of them a handful of questions, and spent an hour with them in their homes.  Most of them lived very simply in regard to Western standards, but they had clean homes and were so welcoming.  When we left, one family told us what an impact the simple act of entering their homes for the interviews had, rather than having them come to our house.  They didn’t feel judged, or poor, but felt touched and blessed to be able to have us there.  We couldn’t believe they were so moved by this seemingly insignificant action.  They said it would have been very different if we would have had them come to our home for the interviews.

Nolan & Elizabeth with some planters in Mahajanga

We were careful to sensitively enter and ask a mix of pointed and open-ended questions in order to understand how their lives had been impacted by working for The Eden Projects.  Some may not have been completely open, but at large, we felt people were very eager to share.  We hope these interviews help give you a better understanding as to how lands and lives are being transformed through the efforts of The Eden Projects!

Lives are honestly being transformed for the better!