Text books Help Children in 132 Schools in Zimbabwe

ASAP through the Bridge The Gap In Mathematics (BTG) project has headed to the call by Manicaland Provincial Educational Director (PED) Mr. Peter Muzawazi for the donation of textbooks to schools. The donation of approximately 2000 textbooks to 132 primary schools that participate in the BTG project in Chipinge, Mutasa, and Nyanga is expected to reduce the pupil textbook ration to at least 1:4 down from a maximum ratio of 1:40 in some badly affected schools. ASAP will deliver the books to all the beneficiary schools through their cluster centers.Above, the PED Mr. Peter Muzawazi officially receives the donated textbooks from the BTG project manager Collins Mutsvairo (left) on behalf of the beneficiary schools.

The PED thanked ASAP for the donation. “After the teacher textbooks are the next most important and indispensable resource for effective teaching and learning” he said. He expressed the hope that beneficiary schools would provide grade 7 results to ASAP so as to document the improvement that is expected.Pictured here (right) Mr. Mhembere an Educational Officer at the Manicaland Educational Regional office scrutinizes the books after receiving them from the BTG project manager Collins Mutsvairo on the left prior to presentation to the PED.

Summer Newsletter

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ASAP is pleased to announce the receipt of an additional $3,000 toward ASAP's "Help 100 Families Grow Food in Zimbabwe " from A Harvest of Hope, a Home and Garden Fundraising Event to Help the Hungry by Irene Dunlap and Stacey Robbins.

According to Mrs. Dunlap, Co-author in the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series.

“One of the things I love most about ASAP Africa is that they teach people how to utilize their soil, which is sometimes the only resource that the people they serve have. The strategy of training people to learn a skill that will help them gain some self-sufficiency is by far more effective than feeding them for the short term."

This project is featured on the Global Giving web site. Click here. Our goal, to raise $9,950 by October 1st, is now within reach - please help us by donating today! Click here to make a secure donation online today

Ms. Mashava Shares Her Success Story

Pictured above, Plaxedes Mashava is making a testimonial to the benefits of ASAP’s Kufusa Mari Urban project, part of the Joint Initiative (JI). Project ongoing since 2006. “I reside at Block 9, Room 4 OTS, Sakubva Mutare. I joined the JI Internal Savings & Lending (IS&L) in October 2008. As a widow, I used to face many money related challenges until a friend advised me to join IS&L clubs in Sakubva. I realized that the food donation would sooner or later be a thing of the past so I joined the Kubudirira IS&L group in OTS, Sakubva. To date, I have managed to raise money to meet part of my family electricity bills, monthly rentals and food. My daughter no longer feels the absence of her father because I can now manage to meet her basic needs from the profits I am realizing out of IS&L activities.”

The goal of the Joint Initiative Project is to restore dignity and reduce suffering for the most vulnerable people in urban and peri-urban areas of Zimbabwe. This is a collaborative project between Mercy Corps, Save the Children, Practical Action, CARE and Africare. ASAP’s role in this project is to adapt the Kufusa Mari village savings and lending model, which we have been implement since 2001, to the urban area outside of Mutare.

ASAP is proud to bring our ethos of long term economic strengthening to improve the households’ resilience to promote self-reliance. Working as part of this large, holistic, collaborative project, which also fills immediate urgent needs such as food and health care, the results and response have been spectacular.

ASAP Zimbabwe Shares Knowledge to Benefit Darfur

It is said there is no better way to test your knowledge than by teaching. This last week ASAP Zimbabwe had the opportunity to do just that - with over 8 years of experience implementing the Internal Savings & Lending project, the Zimbabwe team was delighted to share their insight and experience with a delegation from Norwegian Church Aid-Darfur Program (NCA-DP). Pictured above, Joseph Miti (ASAP's Program Manager) explains the ISL methodology on-sight in rural Zimbabwe to Farhat Abaker Osman Sead of NCA-DP.

Mohammed Abdelkarim Elsafi led his delegation, which departed from Zimbabwe today after a fruitful week of learning. Through the expertise gained from ASAP Africa in Zimbabwe, the NCA-DP will return home and work to build the income and food security of internally displaced persons in the South and West Darfur region.
Pictured here from left to right, Regai Tsunga (ASAP Zimbabwe Country Director) shakes hand with Mohammed Abdelkarim Elsafi (Head of NCA-DP Delegation), Mohammed Adam Brima Hamad, Farhat Abaker Osman Sead and Christopher Nyamandi, all from NCA-DP.

To learn more about ASAP’s ISL projects, and how this successful project is improving lives all over the world, click here.

JB Bids Farewell to ASAP Malawi After 1 1/2 Years of Selfless Service

On Thursday, June 25, ASAP Malawi held a farewell party in honor of one of its dedicated team members, Jeanette Batiste, whose contract with ASAP in Malawi came to an end. The farewell party, which was held in the evening at Matechanga Conference Center in Chikwawa district, was patronized by ASAP staff, district and community level partners and stakeholders. In the picture below Jeanette takes to the dance flow and is joined by some of the invited guests.
Jeanette, popularly known as JB within ASAP circles, joined ASAP Malawi in February 2008 as Program Coordinator to help with institutional development and establishing the organization in Malawi. In her brief but touching and moving speech, Jeanette expressed her thanks and appreciation to the ASAP Malawi team, now being led Victor Katchika-Jere.

“ASAP is still in its infancy, but it is in the hands of a great and capable team led by Victor and with the support of our partners, I believe and know that Chikwawa and other districts where we will be expanding to, will see what ASAP is doing,” she said.

A representative of the District commissioner for Chikwawa District Assembly said the district will remember Jeanette for introducing to the district an organization which had transformed the thinking and mindset of many people at the grassroots. “In a few months ASAP has been operating in the two project sites, we have seen community members who were previously dependent on relief aid and free handouts mobilizing themselves into functional groups to do something about their socio-economic situation,” he recounted.

He also added that the assembly and local leaders were pleased with ASAP’s community mobilization and development approaches and strategies which emphasize on community empowerment and ownership.

Speaking on behalf of the ASAP Malawi team, Victor Katchika-Jere, ASAP Malawi Country Director, wished Jeanette all the best as she was leaving ASAP and all the success in her future endevors.
Pictured here is Victor presenting a gift to Jeanette as her smiling husband looks on.

“I, on behalf of the ASAP Malawi team and indeed on my own behalf, would like to congratulate you tonight on your unstinting and selfless service to ASAP. You were a hard working, friendly, collegial, smart, down to earth, and "one to learn from" individual. I can safely say "We" are proud of you and what you did for the organization and those it serves,” concluded Katchika-Jere.

In addition to speeches, the party had drinks, snacks and a disco to add colour and pomp to the occasion.

Jeanette, who was in the company of her husband, received curios as symbolic gifts from the ASAP Malawi team presented to her by Katchika-Jere. Pictured here is Jeanette acknowledging and showing off her presents.