Doany · North Madagascar
We live in Doany, a mountain village near Nosy Be. We cannot remain indifferent to what surrounds us. SATYA is our commitment — and our invitation.
Daily life in Doany — fishing, farming, community.
"Generosity is the only wealth that increases when it is shared."
The spirit of SATYAWho we are
We did not come to Doany to observe. We came to stay.
Nestled in the mountains of northern Madagascar, facing the legendary island of Nosy Be, lies Doany — a village of 200 souls. Fishermen, farmers, mothers, children. People of extraordinary resilience, talent and dignity, living in one of the poorest countries on earth. People who deserve so much more than what fate has given them.
We own an ecolodge on this mountain. And from the first day, it was unthinkable to us to live among these people without actively contributing to improving their lives. You cannot share someone's land, their sunsets, their laughter — and then turn away when they need you.
That is why we created SATYA — a French non-profit association (loi 1901). Satya is a Sanskrit word meaning truth: the truthfulness of thoughts, words, and actions. It is our compass. We are not here to impose solutions from the outside. We are here to listen, to build together, and to act — authentically, pragmatically, and with full accountability to the community that has welcomed us.
In their own words
Diana Lodge Ankify · Doany, North Madagascar
Question 1
Jean-Claude
When we arrived in Doany and opened the lodge, we did not come with the idea of transforming a village or placing ourselves above anyone. We came because this place became our home.
We chose to settle in an isolated region where communities had always lived — with their culture, their knowledge, their dignity, and their own forms of solidarity. Very quickly, it felt natural to build connections with the inhabitants.
The very first thing I did when I arrived was to walk through the mountain villages to introduce myself. I wanted people to know who we were, what we were building, and that we were there to live among them — not apart from them. Over time, relationships of trust were built. We simply felt that since we had the ability to mobilise resources, networks, funding, and goodwill, it was only right to put that energy at the service of projects that could concretely improve daily life around us.
Question 2
Jean-Claude
Employment and training were our first priorities. Most of the people we hired had never worked in hospitality and did not speak French. Today, of our 24 employees, only two do not come from the surrounding mountain villages: our two cooks, originally from Antananarivo and Nosy Be. Everyone else grew up here.
We trained them ourselves: service, housekeeping, reception, maintenance, hospitality. We also enabled several employees to access professional training in French and hospitality organised by the Malagasy state. When possible, we often hired couples — because two salaries within a household can lastingly transform the stability of an entire family. The goal was never charity. The goal was skills transfer, autonomy, and professional integration.
Question 3
Béa
Yes, profoundly. Shortly after our arrival, two children from the mountain villages died — probably from bronchiolitis. I could not accept the idea that in 2025, children could still die simply because they live too far from medical care.
Here, getting medical care remains extremely difficult. A simple doctor's consultation costs around 15,000 ariary — about 3 euros — and even that sum remains out of reach for many families.
We have already had to intervene several times in life-threatening emergencies: making our boats available to evacuate people, funding medical care, helping families reach a hospital in time. It is from this reality that the idea of the mountain dispensary was born.
Question 4
Jean-Claude
We have already acquired the land for both the future dispensary and the school. This was an essential step — we wanted to commit concretely and durably before seeking any external funding. A significant part of the projects is therefore already funded directly by us.
The fact that the land is already secured also guarantees that future funding will go directly toward construction, equipment, training, and operations — rather than land acquisition. Our aim is to build projects that are useful, realistic, and deeply rooted in the needs of the territory.
Question 5
Béa
This project also grew directly out of conversations with our employees. When some began attending professional training, I realised that several of them could neither read nor write. They were the ones who expressed the desire to learn. That moved me deeply.
The literacy project was not imagined from the outside. It was born from conversations, trust, and the desire of the people themselves to build their future differently. And that is how all the projects have come about: from concrete observation, dialogue, and shared construction.
Question 6
Béa & Jean-Claude
It is a relationship of reciprocity. The inhabitants help us constantly. The fishermen bring us fish. The villagers are there when we have boat problems, emergencies, or technical difficulties. Here, mutual aid is part of daily life.
We do not live 'alongside' the community. We live with it. There is an immense goodwill here despite extremely difficult living conditions. We simply cannot imagine building our lives in this place, enjoying its beauty and its people, without actively participating in the collective life around us. It is not about 'changing the world'. It is simply about being responsible for the place where we have chosen to live.
Question 7
Béa & Jean-Claude
These projects are not founded on pity. They are founded on human connection, dignity, and coexistence. We do not believe in projects imposed from the outside, where people decide on behalf of inhabitants what they need. The most just projects are those built together, slowly, through trust and shared experience.
SATYA exists because human relationships exist. Because conversations have taken place. Because certain realities have been seen up close. Because people have themselves expressed their needs, their desires, and their ideas. And above all, because solidarity here existed long before we arrived. We are simply becoming part of a solidarity that was already there.
Doany is a remote mountain village in North Madagascar, home to around 200 inhabitants. Nestled between the rainforest and the sea, near the island of Nosy Be, it lives far from the roads, far from official channels — and far from indifference. This is where SATYA was born. This is where every project takes root.
Paris
9,200 km
Berlin
9,800 km
Zürich
9,100 km
New York
12,400 km
Antananarivo
600 km
Cape Town
7,200 km
Our action plan
Each project was defined with and for the inhabitants of Doany — addressing the needs they themselves identified as most urgent.
A basic healthcare clinic accessible to all 200 inhabitants, staffed by a qualified nurse, with essential medicines and solar power. Built in four phases over 6–10 months.
A school for 50 children covering kindergarten through CM2 (6 levels). Three teachers, a canteen, solar panels, and a well — everything a child needs to stay in school.
Literacy sessions for adults who have never had access to basic education. Ten trained local educators bring reading, writing, and arithmetic to remote communities.
Dry toilets, ecological showers, and laundries for every family. Waste collection brigades and concrete bins in each village — restoring dignity and protecting rivers.
Why support us
With 200 inhabitants, this village is small enough that every donation creates visible, measurable change. A modest sum can build a classroom, stock a pharmacy, or pay a teacher's salary.
These communities live in extreme isolation, often overlooked by governments and large NGOs. SATYA is on the ground, living among them — bridging the gap that distant institutions cannot reach.
We send videos and testimonials directly to donors. You will see what your contribution built. There is no bureaucracy between your donation and the people of Doany.
An educated generation creates change beyond one village. A healthy community reduces regional epidemics. Acting in Doany is an active contribution to a global movement of transformation.
Financial overview
Local materials, local workers, community involvement. Every euro is tracked and every project is an estimate that can be adjusted to local realities.
Our story in pictures
Switch language above to watch the film in English, French or German.
Experience the place
Our ecolodge nestled in the mountains of North Madagascar. A sanctuary where nature, sustainability, and authentic community connection meet. Diana Lodge is not just a place to stay — it's an invitation to be part of something meaningful.
Each room reflects the simplicity and elegance of Malagasy design. Solar power runs the lodge, fresh water comes from natural springs, and every detail has been thoughtfully created to minimize impact while maximizing comfort. Here, you are truly away from the world — yet closer to what matters most.
Stay with us, and your presence becomes part of SATYA's mission. A portion of every booking supports our four pillars of change: health, education, literacy, and environmental dignity. Come experience Doany. Come be part of the solution.
Experience Doany for yourself — stay at the heart of the project.
Visit Diana Lodge Ankify →The people behind SATYA
Co-Founders · Diana Lodge Ankify, Doany
Jean-Claude and Béatrice are the beating heart of SATYA on the ground. As co-owners of the Diana Lodge Ankify, they live among the community of Doany every day — they know the families, the children, the needs, the reality. It was their shared vision that transformed good intentions into concrete action. They initiated SATYA not as a commercial enterprise, but as a life commitment — a bridge between two worlds, built with the community, for the community. Where others see isolation, they see potential. Where others pass by, they stay.
Operations Manager · Zürich, Switzerland
It started with a holiday. Artur discovered Doany by chance, met Béatrice and her team at the Diana Lodge Ankify — and something clicked. The place, the people, the philosophy. Since then, he has been fully committed to SATYA, contributing his 20 years of international management experience on a voluntary basis from Zürich. Together with Béatrice, he shares the costs and the vision — building the project sustainably, step by step. From digital presence to operational structure, Artur ensures that SATYA grows with integrity and long-term impact.
Legal & official
SATYA is a registered French association under the law of 1901, officially part of the Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS). Registered since 2022 and verified by INSEE, your donations are tax-deductible.
Resources
Download our comprehensive project reports and learn more about SATYA's vision, progress, and impact in French, English, and German.
Make a difference
Every euro goes directly to the people of Doany. No overhead, no bureaucracy — just impact you can see.
Bank transfer
Please add "SATYA Doany" as reference in your transfer.
Or support us via
Every donation — large or small — creates real, visible change in Doany. Support education, healthcare, literacy, and dignity for 200 people in Madagascar.
