Congratulations Stephanie Marienau

ASAP Africa’s Stephanie Marienau will graduate from Vanderbilt University this May with a degree in English and French. She was overjoyed with the latest news that she was accepted into George Washington University where she can continue her education in international development. Stephanie will also travel to Malawi after graduating from Vanderbilt to develop ASAP’s contacts and research for our expansion projects.

Stephanie will celebrate her 22nd birthday tomorrow the 31st of March. HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEPHANIE! This is going to be one BIG celebration.

Field Work/Community Work – A Work of Love

Being an ASAP Field Officer (Community worker/ Social worker) must be rooted in deep love for what you do for yourself and for the clients or community you serve. “He being used up for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature instead of feverish, selfish, little clot of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy”. George Bernard Shaw once wrote this statement referring to it to be the true joy of life, meaning that community work/field work is not the best for somebody with complaints, grudges, and ailments, or some one who should only focus on project benefits to himself.

All knowledge is in vain when there is no work. All work is empty when there is no love. Working with love can best be symbolized to weaving a cloth with threads drawn from the heart as if your beloved were to wear that.

To work with love would be likened to sowing seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, as if your beloved were to eat the fruits.
By: Manjoro Lovemore- Field Officer, Sakubva

Spring Forward with ASAP

ASAP is springing forward with some of our newest activities and latest accomplishments. We have prepared our spring newsletter for our friends to take a look at some of the newest births at ASAP as well as the growth of some of our older projects. This is truly an exciting time for all of the ASAP family. We are expanding our work into Malawi and bringing forth new partnerships in the United States. Enjoy the spring breeze while reading the ASAP Newsletter!

Improving Lives One Drip at a Time

In observance of World Water Day March 22, 2007 ASAP Africa has set a goal of providing 300 rural families directly affected by HIV/AIDS with the ability to extend the limited water available for year-round farming through home Drip Irrigation Kits. “We only need 240 more like-minded people, each donating $70, to reach our goal!”, according to Shannon Dunn, ASAP Africa’s Fund Development Coordinator. A single drip kit will allow a family of five or more to harvest crops all year-round - year in and year out. Located in Zimbabwe, the project will improve the lives of some of the neediest families living on Earth today.

There is no life without water. Nowhere is this more true than in the subsistence farming communities in rural Zimbabwe. Along with the ASAP training in Permaculture techniques, a home Drip Irrigation Kit creates a drought resistant family that will endure regardless of the rains. It enables them to use a relatively small amount water to produce abundant crops throughout the year. This enables the community to not only to better care for themselves but also to care for the increasing number of HIV/AIDS orphans in their community.
Your $70 donation today will bring new life and hope to a family, enabling them to sustain themselves throughout the year. Some may think that one person can not make a difference, but they are wrong! One person can make a difference. Just Imagine - the amount you may spend on one nice dinner ….only $70…. will help a family of 5 or more eat for a year!

For more information on how you can help ASAP Africa in their efforts to help people in their efforts to improve their own lives, call 770-632-7451 or e-mail shannondunn@asapafrica.org. You may also make your donation on-line at www.asapafrica.org or by mail to:
ASAP Africa, 189 Fulton Ct., Peachtree City, GA 30269

Don’t wait...Do it now!

Giving Back

Tom Arsenault and Elizabeth Bara were recently highlighted in The National Peace Corps Association Worldview Magazine as “Giving Back” to our countries and communities through service. Tom and Elizabeth joined the Peace Corps and served in Swaziland from 1989-1991 where they actually met and married. After returning to the United States they devoted their life to service and co-founded ASAP Africa. Today, they have built an organization that serves well over 25,000 Zimbabweans working to bring themselves out of poverty.

-Shannon

New Partnerships for ASAP

ASAP Africa and Catholic Relief Services have joined forces to bring the Out of School Adolescents project to Zimbabwe along with four other consortium partners including Community Technology Development Trust (CTDT), Lead Trust, ORAP, and Practical Action. The goal of this project is to improve the economic, food security, health and psychosocial well being of out-of-school adolescents in Zimbabwe. The three objectives of this project are 1. To improve the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of OSA within an environment that respects and supports the rights, citizenship and responsibilities of each adolescent 2. To enhance the capabilities and assets of OSA and 3. To strengthen the safety nets of communities and households, especially those headed by OSA.

The fact is that 60% of the targeted adolescents have lost one or both parents and now have the responsibility of taking care themselves and other siblings. What about their EDUCATION? Many of these youth are resorting to drugs, prostitution, and other crimes to find means for survival. This just adds to the cycle of poverty and AIDS/HIV.

The mission of the OSA-SP project in to reach 42,000 youth in the 5 provinces and 12 districts of Zimbabwe by 2009. Once becoming a part of the project OSA will obtain vocational training and skills, positive role models, and an abundance of resources to ensure a chance of a healthy productive life.

The Study Hall's International Festival

ASAP Africa had an awesome experience at the Study Hall’s International Festival. We were invited to share our organizations history with the scholars that attend the Study Hall this past Friday. The event was developed to give students the opportunity to experience other countries and cultures. They were encouraged to ask any question that would help them get a better grasp on international awareness. I was amazed at some of the questions I was asked like “Why aren’t there any books in their library, wouldn’t their feet hurt really bad without shoes, and what do the kids eat on the weekend?” I reminded the children of how fortunate we are to live in the United States and some even asked me if they could donate their shoes or get their parents to give money. The concern that these students gave for other students around the globe was almost overwhelming.

The day was also filled with a village market that included: crafts, photos, international food, and memories that they will hold for a lifetime.

Thank you Google Grants

ASAP Africa was recently honored by receiving a Google Grant of up to $10,000 a month worth of advertising ads for one year. We are so thrilled to have been chosen for this grant. Now, ASAP can really get the word out about all of the programs that we are implementing in rural Zimbabwe to eliminate poverty.

What this means… when you are browsing on the internet and type in some key words such as Zimbabwe charity ASAP Africa will appear in your sponsored links on the right side of the page. This promotes the awareness of our organization and makes is that much easier for you to become an active member of our team. Thank you Google Grants!