There are Many Gaps to Bridge

“So what is your favorite part of school?”
“Writing the tests that ASAP brings us.”

When fifth grader Hardlife Dirorimwe answered my question in this way, I thought he was just trying to give the scary American woman the answer she wanted. As I was walking home with Bridge the Gap Project Manager Collins Mutsvairo, I joked that I had never met a child whose favorite part of school was taking tests.

“No,” he corrected me, “his favorite part of school isn’t taking tests, it’s writing the diagnostic tests that ASAP brings.”

Apparently, taking ASAP’s tests is something that excites many of the rural students. Why? Because it’s the only time each student gets a piece of paper and a pencil all to him or herself. Even more exciting, the paper has the questions printed right on it!

Usually, three or four students share a writing utensil and a notebook of newsprint. Textbooks are even scarcer. As many as ten students can be forced to share the same book in some subjects. Teaching aids like maps, protractors, rulers, and charts are all but non-existent. Further complicating matters, inflation has raised school fees out of reach of many students and teacher pay has become low enough to make teachers wonder if they should come to work at all.

In light of so many difficulties, ASAP’s education programs provide a ray of hope. Bridge the Gap adds much needed energy and enthusiasm to math education through quiz competitions, after school math clubs, and teacher training workshops. Kufusa Mari Junior attacks a different, but equally important issue by helping students form savings clubs and raise money for their school fees. ASAP field officers are deeply engaged in the schools they serve and work hard to supplement the existing educational system. With programs like these, ASAP is giving the most marginalized students a chance to succeed.

What does a pair of shoes really cost?

Brian Sabeta, a participant in ASAP’s Bridge the Gap Education project, when asked what one thing he would change about his life if he could, said that he would ask for shoes. He walks six kilometers to school everyday, and he said, quite simply, that his feet hurt.

A year ago I would have seen a simple answer to this problem. I should buy Brian a pair of shoes! I have a closet full of shoes I don’t even wear, so certainly I can afford to buy a pair for a boy who really needs one. But during my time with ASAP, I have begun to look at the problem differently. What happens next year when Brian grows out of those shoes or wears them out? Do I buy him another pair? What about the year after that? What about when he grows up and has children- do I buy them shoes as well?

I’m learning that buying shoes for every barefoot child is not feasible, nor is it sustainable. Further, it may not even be desirable. By giving Brian a pair of shoes I would be telling him that he needs me to provide for him and that he, his family, and his community all are incapable of taking care of themselves. I would be perpetuating the dehumanizing cycle of donor dependence.

Of course, this theory doesn’t make Brian’s sore feet feel any better. Then what can we, as cultural outsiders, do? We can support programs that train, equip, and empower local communities and individuals to meet their own needs. In Brian’s case, the answer is Kufusa Mari Junior, a program that teaches kids a simple form of savings and lending methodology. The children of adult Kufusa Mari participants form all-kid clubs and learn to save money to pay for their school fees, school supplies, and uniform. Participants can even use the money to buy, you guessed it, shoes.

Yield to Oncoming Zebras

Every day on my way to work I pass this sign, which reads Zebra Crossing. And every day when I see that sign I smile to myself at how bizarre and exotic living in Africa is. Where I’m from in Atlanta, all we have are duck crossings!

Last week I asked my coworker Michael to stop the car in front of the sign so that I could take a picture of it. He looked a little confused, but pulled over to the side of the road. When I got back in the car he asked me, “Don’t you have crossings in the United States?” I replied, “Yeah, for people, but not for ZEBRAS!”

He looked confused for a moment and then burst out laughing. In between laughing fits he explained to me that a zebra crossing is not for zebras. It’s just a normal crosswalk named “zebra” for the black and white diagonal lines that mark where people should cross. Every since then whenever we pass a zebra crossing, Michael smirks and says, "Stephie, look out for the zebras!"

Sigh. This picture is yet another symbol of how much I still have to learn about life in Zimbabwe.

Snakes on a Plane, Zimbabwe Style

At field day celebrations, ASAP staff members and leaders in the community give short speeches or tell stories to encourage the project participants. Since I don’t speak Shona, I have to rely on whoever is sitting next to me to translate what the speaker is saying. Usually my translator gets tired of repeating everything in English and starts to give me somewhat garbled snippets of the stories. I try to link them together, but often I just end up laughing to myself about what in the world the speaker could be saying. Here are some of the best explanations translators have given me:

-“When the mermaid returned Robert to his home, he had to go back to grade 4 even though he was old enough to be in grade 6.”
-“Stay in the middle of the river so that an animal won’t drink you and keep you from getting back to the ocean.”
-“You wouldn’t let a rabbit join your savings club would you? No, of course not! Rabbits are sneaky and will steal all your money!”

Usually I don’t bother the translator to explain the stories that don’t make sense to me. I just laugh and clap when everyone else does and it all works out fine. But at my last field day, I had to get the story behind Project Manager Joseph Miti’s speech. The field officer who was translating for me leaned over and whispered, “Okay, so there are these snakes… on a plane.”

I thought surely Miti hadn’t seen the cheesy Samuel L. Jackson movie, Snakes on a Plane! Of course, he hadn’t and was happy to retell the story to me later.

Two American scientists were visiting Zimbabwe to conduct research on a rare type of deadly snake. Once they collected fifty of the biggest and meanest snakes they could find, they packed them up in breathable boxes and got on a plane back to the United States.

Unfortunately, the take-off was a rough one and the turbulence caused the boxes to break open just as the plane reached its cruising altitude, releasing the snakes into the cabin of the plane.

People began running around the cabin screaming, jumping on top of their seats, and clinging to one another for safety. Even the scientists were afraid to be enclosed with so many snakes on the loose!

Immediately, the pilot radioed the control tower and asked for permission to land. The control tower replied that another plane was already on the runway and there was no where for the plane to land. The pilot again asked for permission to land, indicating that there were severe problems on board, but again the air traffic controller told him that there was nowhere for him to land. A third time, the pilot begged to land. “This is an emergency!” he yelled into his radio. But the air traffic controller yelled back, “You’re not coming down here! The only direction you can go is UP!”

Faced with no other options, the pilot did as he was told and steered the plane up toward the clouds. The plane flew higher and higher until the cabin temperature began to fall. With each minute the cabin got colder and the snakes began moving more slowly. As you know, snakes are cold-blooded animals and they cannot move if they are not warm. As the snakes began to fall asleep, the American scientists quickly gathered them up and secured them back in their boxes. All the passengers began to cheer and thanked the pilot for flying UP!

The morale of the story is this:

When you begin your Kufusa Mari savings club it is like boarding a plane. Without a doubt you will encounter difficulties on your journey, just like the snakes, but you must not give up because there is no place for you to land once you have begun. Instead, fly so high that the problems lose their energy. If you continue to fly too high for conflict, then you will make it to your destination!

Not even Samuel L. Jackson can beat that.

Stephanie

What Life is Like in Rural Africa

Over the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to travel through some of the more rural areas of Zimbabwe as I have visited project beneficiaries. The beauty of the mountains and grassy fields is tempered with the desperation of those who inhabit this scenic place. As I walked along the side of the road there were many waiting for scarce transportation, searching for scarce work, or haggling over scarce food. Maybe that is the theme for rural Zimbabwe right now: scarcity. Everything seems to be in short supply from grocery items to electricity.

People cannot afford their own cars or even bikes, so public transportation is important. In the city, many people wait to pay high prices to squeeze into small buses. Those in the rural areas are less lucky and routinely have to walk to their destinations many kilometers away. Walking presents a unique challenge to women who must carry large bundles on their heads, strap babies to their back, and lead their other children along by the hand.

Many in the rural areas do not have running water. Some have always lacked the necessary plumbing, but others just recently have been deprived of water due to power cuts at reservoirs and water pumping stations. In order to cope, families must walk to the nearest river, sometimes very far from their homes, and bring back water in buckets. The water must then be boiled before it is sanitary to drink.

Since money is scarce, families grow their own vegetables to supplement what they are able to buy. The gardens must be carefully tended and protected from roaming animals. If the crops do not grow or are destroyed, the family will suffer.

There are, however, some things that are not at all scarce. There is no shortage of children who have lost parents to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, nor is there a shortage of price increases as the country faces 4000% inflation, and certainly there is no shortage of the unemployed, who currently compose 80% of the country’s population.

Nothing about daily life in rural Africa is easy, but Zimbabweans continue to persevere and work hard to improve their lives. The situation here is often bleak, but it is not hopeless. Many of the challenges rural Africans face today are similar to what farmers in America struggled against less than a hundred years ago. The United States has taken giant leaps forward in national health and prosperity and I believe that Zimbabwe can do the same.

In spite of all the difficulties in providing even the most basic standard of living, there is something beautifully complex about seeing life in rural Africa as an outsider. To me, it is like being at a party where everyone is dancing to a song that I can’t hear. All I can do is copy their moves and hope to be only a beat behind. There is so much I don’t understand that I could embarrass myself with examples. That’s why any foreign imposition of how Africa “should” be will inevitably fail. As cultural outsiders, all we can do is assist Africans in changing their own lives. They are ready. Are we?

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Sadza

"When I don’t eat sadza for a day, it’s like… something is missing in my life!”

This is how Field Officer Lovemore Manjoro described sadza, a thick maize-based paste that is the staple food in Zimbabwe. I can safely say that I don’t feel like anything is missing from my life on days when I don’t eat sadza. It has been a challenge to adapt to eating this food everyday, but I think I’m starting to get the hang of it! I’m learning strategies for finishing my sadza and not looking like a wimp or food snob. So, here’s my guide to eating sadza… and maybe even liking it.

(1) Wash your hands. You will be eating with your hands and nothing kills an appetite for sadza like dirt on your finger-utensils. There is always a chance to rinse your hands off in a basin, but believe me, that doesn’t do much.



(2) Try to get sadza served with lots of sauce, meat, vegetables, and, if you are very lucky, rice. Here is an example of a very small portion of sadza with lots of extras:


(3) Dip each bite of sadza in the sauce and get a piece of something else with it. Put the something else on the tongue side.


(4) Take big bites.

(5) Don’t eat the stuff in the blue bowl.


6) Sit next to someone who really likes sadza. Miti is always a good choice.

(7) When you think you can’t possibly take another bite, take another bite.

(8) When the meal is over, sit back and thank those who prepared the sadza for you.

And the key to liking sadza? Keep eating it! It gets better every meal.

At First Thought...

“I thought first of killing myself. I kept asking God, ‘Why me?’ I tried to think of my kids, but all I saw was my death ahead of me,” Netsai Chikohomero explains emotionally as she described the day she found out she was HIV positive. That was seven years ago.

She lights up when I ask about her Kufusa Mari Savings Group, which is composed exclusively of HIV-positive women; “We’re just like a family when we’re here. We are all in the same boat, so we can give each other physical, emotional, and spiritual support. We share ideas and help one another.” For Netsai’s savings group, Kufusa Mari has already begun to turn their lives around after only eight months of internal savings and lending. “Some of us used to beg, but now none of us beg. If you use the money properly, you can raise money to buy things for your own. The project is especially important for those of us who are single mothers. Some of us used to be prostitutes, but now we don’t have to do that anymore.”

Still, the current economic climate continues to create struggles for Netsai and her family; “The hardest part is telling my kids that I don’t have money for them. My youngest daughter is only five, but she is trying to understand. I’m trying to raise money for her education, so when she asks for a sweet, I have to ask her, ‘Do you want a sweet or do you want to go to school?’ She thinks about it and decides that school is better. She is starting to understand the reality of the world.”

Though she has huge financial needs, Kufusa Mari has already helped Netsai to earn her own money to pay for food and her medical costs. She is hopeful that it will continue to help her as her group’s combined income grows each month. So far, she says the most helpful part of Kufusa Mari was the initial training in savings and lending methodology; “I learned how to budget, how to buy first what is most important. I have already taught my friends and relatives about how to save and lend money. Most importantly, we learned that we don’t have to beg. We learned how to work hard, use our heads, and fend for ourselves.”

When I ask how she can have hope in such difficult circumstances, she smiles broadly; “I want to see my kids grow up. I have this vision,” she gestures excitedly, “I want to leave my children in their own homes, able to take care of themselves. I want to see my grandchildren.”

I ask her how she feels about her disease now and she pauses for a moment to think. “Now, I feel that I am just like anyone else. When I die, I will die like any other human.”

Stephanie

100 Kilometers from Nowhere

Today I went to a wonderful field day in a very rural area called Nyamhingura. About fifteen years ago, several non-governmental organizations and governments banded together to build Zimbabwe’s infrastructure. This area is an example of how the infrastructure has outgrown the rest of the country’s development. In Nyamhingura, there are schools, but no qualified teachers. There are clinics, but no doctors or medicine. There are roads, but there are no buses for people or transport for crops. The people here live on the cusp of change, but lack the resources to improve their lives.

That’s why Kufusa Mari has made such a difference to these women and men. They are able to pool what little they have with the contributions of their neighbors and then make their own development without waiting for a foreign organization to bring them what they need.

Today, 195 participants graduated and were certified capable of continuing their savings activities without the monitoring or guidance of ASAP field officers. What a moment of success and empowerment for many who have felt powerless! The celebration was wonderful as groups of beneficiaries sang, danced, and made speeches. At the end, the cluster presented me with a beautifully woven basket as a gift. I was humbled to be honored by women and men who deserve so much more credit for their work than I do for mine.

-Stephanie

We Miss Martin!

On Wednesday, ASAP IT intern Marty Henderson left for the United States. He was a great help and encouragement to all the ASAP staff and indeed optimized the heck out of our computers! Thank you for your service, Marty, and good luck with your future ventures! We trust that you will be back in Africa soon.

Fambai Zvakanaka!

ZESA...Where are you?

Right now I am sitting in the ASAP field office out in a rural area. It’s midnight and I’m working on my computer because it’s the only time we have electricity nowadays. This week, coming to work during the day has become more like a habit than a productive use of time. We all do whatever work we can without computers or printers, but after awhile, we’re all just sitting there waiting for the lights to flash on.

We occupy ourselves in different ways. Marty and I have been practicing our Shona and bike skills in the yard. Diana has been walking laps around the office, neatening up as she goes. One friend listed out his monthly expenses and discovered that he now spends more on candles than electricity.

The power cuts change how we live at home as well. Cooking must be done over a fire and entertainment options are limited. Usually we end up reading or playing cards by candlelight. I’ve been very grateful that I remembered to pack a flashlight and headlamp!

The power outages have become such a part of everyday life here that Zimbabweans have even given electricity a nickname- ZESA. ZESA stands for the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, or, as I’ve heard some say, Zimbabwe Electricity Sometimes Available. They speak about ZESA as though she were a person:
“When do you think ZESA will come?”
“Do you have ZESA at your house?”

Everyone here seems to be just taking the outages in stride. Certainly there are moments of frustration, but mostly people just joke about the hardship and continue hoping that it will improve soon.

Stephanie

The Power of Working Together

Before I came to Zimbabwe, I believed the Kufusa Mari project was successful because of the financial gain it provided for people living in poverty. As I have learned more during my time here, I realized that the most important part of the project is not the money, but the community and fellowship of experience the groups provide. The closeness that the groups share is obvious at field day celebrations and group meetings, which are full of joy and laughter. The cluster format allows for deep bonds to be formed in the act of pulling one another out of poverty.

As a result of the authentic community within each cluster, participants can share important information with one another in a way that is authentic and effective. Here, cluster facilitators share with their neighbors what ASAP has taught them about agriculture, nutrition, child protection issues, and HIV/AIDS training. Some clubs form within existing communities like Netsai’s all HIV-positive club and or the all deaf club that I had the opportunity to visit today. Within these groups, participants can share their hardships, successes, lessons, and ideas with those who understand their situation. I’m excited to see how this form of education expands organically as the participants help one another through sharing their own experiences.

When I visited the all deaf club today, I got the chance to talk with Memory Zhuwao, a young woman who is part of the savings club. She has only been a member of the club for a few months, but she is already starting to see the benefits of it.

As a deaf person, Memory has struggles even beyond those worries common to Zimbabweans. She told me that often when she tries to sell vegetables as part of her income-generating activity, people try to take advantage of her. “They tell me, ‘I’ll give you the money tomorrow,’ but when I go to them the next day, they act like they don’t have to pay me. It’s as though because I am deaf, they think I don’t know how to think or reason.” Even communicating with her family can be challenging. Though communication is often difficult for Memory, her savings club has become a place where she can find community as well as work to improve her financial situation.

Memory’s group is just starting, but she is happy to tell me of the success she has already experienced. She uses the money she borrows from her group to buy vegetables for resale and to buy fabric to make coats to sell. When I asked her what she has bought with her profits, she smiled and proudly pointed to her tightly braided hair. “She got her hair done,” the translator laughed. She went on to say that she uses her profits to support her mother and her brother, who is employed, but whose salary is not keeping up with the sky-rocketing inflation.

Groups like Netsai’s and Memory’s show me that good breeds more good. Kufusa Mari brings people together to share their ideas in an environment of equality and empowerment. We call it self-help for a reason- these women and men are learning how to pull themselves out of poverty and expanding the project into new and wonderful purposes. ASAP’s projects are strengthened as the staff and beneficiaries collaborate.

-Stephanie

Joy...Down in my SOUL

Last week I got to go to another Kufusa Mari graduation field day in the city of Mutare. Normally, Kufusa Mari works mainly in rural areas, but recently ASAP has adapted the project for implementation in urban environments like Mutare.

It was so much fun to see the women dance, tell stories, and sing together in celebration of their success! This time, I even got to give a speech to the graduates congratulating them on their accomplishments. When Joseph Miti, the Kufusa Mari Project Manager, asked me to speak I protested saying that I was here to learn from these strong women not the other way around. He laughed and told me that I didn’t have to talk for long; everyone would just want to hear my funny American voice! However, he maintained that I should speak because seeing a woman speaking confidently to a large group would be encouraging to women who may not be accustomed to having a voice even in their own homes. According to Miti, many of these women faced opposition from their husbands when they decided to join Kufusa Mari, but were brave to pursue the opportunity anyway and now have won over their whole families. These women are courageous and willing to battle through adversity in the hope of a better life for their families.

This field day was a special one for me because I also had the privilege of helping to hand out the diplomas and t-shirts to graduates. I got to shake the hand of each graduate and personally congratulate them on their hard work and admirable accomplishments. At the end of the ceremony, Lovemore Manjoro and Causemore Samanga declared Marty and me to be graduates as well and gave us both our own Kufusa Mari t-shirt! As they handed me the t-shirt, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the people, experiences, and lessons that are coming my way this summer.

Then, to top it all off, I ran into Netsai Chikohomero from my last blog entry and was able to talk with her awhile longer! All in all, it was one of my favorite days in Zim so far. Life has not been kind to most of the women and men who graduated from the Kufusa Mari program, but despite everything else going on in their lives and in their country, they know how to be joyful in celebrating their blessings.

-Stephanie

What's Next!

The hardships in Zimbabwe are affecting everyone and it proves to be a frustrating time. Below you will read a message from Samanga an ASAP Kufusa Mari Senior Field Officer as he expresses his frustration towards the economic situation that he faces every day.

“I wish to bring to your attention the hardships which are affecting my social life as well as work.

Busfare has gone up from Z$5,000.00 to Z$20,000.00 a trip which makes it Z$40,000.00 per day. I need to buy bread for my family and myself. A loaf of bread costs Z$12,500.00. Rent has gone up from Z$80,000.00 to Z$350,000.00 per month. Meat has gone up from Z$30,000.00 to Z$80,000.00. This is affecting me psychologically at home and work. Considering that I was paid last week and this week everything has gone up.”

ASAP felt that this message adequately painted a picture of the ever-changing economic hardships that Zimbabweans face day to day. We hope that this message gives our supporters a real idea of what life is really like.

Better to light a candle than curse the darkness…

Yesterday Marty and I went to our first Kufusa Mari Field Day in Nyanga. Field days are graduation ceremonies for ASAP’s rural savings club program. In the Kufusa Mari program, participants, mainly women, pool their money together and take turns loaning it out to one another, so that they can start small income-generating businesses. The program is directed by the participants themselves who write their own constitution, keep their own books, and make all group decisions. Women and men graduate when the field officers decide they are capable of carrying on their savings activities without supervision. Thus, the field days are a time for celebration of success!

Many of these women have become capable of paying their children’s school fees, improving their family’s nutrition, or paying a family member’s medical costs. The program has truly changed participants’ lives and they came yesterday ready to show their joy! The participants performed skits, songs, dances, and poetry expressing their happiness and success, as well as some of the community’s continuing concerns. One of my favorite performances was from a group of children who sang a song about the dangers of AIDS and how to avoid contracting the disease.

At the end of the day, Joseph Miti, ASAP’s Projects Manager, and Francis Zengeni, the Field Officer for the area, awarded certificates and t-shirts to 150 graduating participants. They joyfully accepted their awards and danced around the field wearing their new shirts and holding their certificates in the air.

The entire celebration was filled with joy. I had the chance to talk with several of the graduating women. They all seemed happy to joke good naturedly, asking me questions about Marty, and commenting that he was very handsome… for a white man. Yet, the burden of Zimbabwe’s current reality was not far away. When I asked them about their families, I most often heard stories of death, disease, and devastating poverty. In the midst of such painful lives, Kufusa Mari promises hope that things can change. After meeting these strong, beautiful, resourceful, and caring women, I have no doubt that change is on the way in each of their lives.

-Stephanie

The Journey Begins...

Marty and Stephanie, our new IT and PR interns graduated from Vanderbilt University two weeks ago and have now arrived in Mutare to assist ASAP with our program expansions. Over the coming weeks expect to read updates from them about what they are learning as they encounter Zimbabwe and the world of development work for the first time.

Marty and I have only been in Zimbabwe for a few short, jet-lagged days, but already I am learning so much from seeing the country and its citizens first hand. For the past year I have been reading news article after news article about Zimbabwe’s troubles, so I came prepared for the very worst. I have to say that I did not find what I had been expecting. In this country with the world’s highest inflation, widespread food shortages, an HIV/AIDS infection rate of 20.1%, according to Global Health Reporting, and a plummeting life expectancy of 34 for females and 37 males, life is surprisingly... normal. People wake up in the morning, go to work or look for work, come home at night, and tuck their children into bed. Despite everything, life continues.

Perhaps what allows these people to continue their daily routines in circumstances that many of us would consider chaotic is hope. Zimbabwe has not always suffered the problems it currently faces. In fact, not so long ago Zimbabwe was considered the bread basket of Africa and represented the promise that development could make real change. As the situation here slowly worsened, people did not forget the growth that they had once experienced. The aftertaste of success fades slowly.

In the end, it is this hope that is the most lasting remnant of the country’s previous development. The Zimbabwean people know there is more for them, so they are not content with their current situation. They have seen what it is to not be poor and hungry and they will continue to strive together until they no longer have to be.

- Stephanie

Thanks you Sierra Vista High School

ASAP Africa was recently shocked to receive a donation in the mail from Sierra Vista High School for almost 600 dollars. It was such a magical feeling to know that we have a growing number of supporters that have teamed with ASAP to make a difference in the world. Good things always seem to happen at just the right time.

ASAP is continuing our Meet or Beat Challenge with schools, businesses, and even indivuals. We have currently had three schools face the challenge and succeed with great success. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to:

Sierra Vista High School
Grace Church School
Sandy Creek High School

Unwavering Spirit

“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.” -Unknown

In times of turmoil…we press on, in times of defeat…we press on, and in times of celebration…we savor the moment and appreciate the path that brought us here. Life in Zimbabwe is not easy and almost unimaginable for those not living in these conditions. One thing that I have learned during my time with ASAP is that regardless of the battle you must stay focused and POSITIVE. In a land where it seems that most things are collapsing, ASAP is fighting to sustain and build on our vision of “A World Without Poverty.” This brings me to our latest announcement:

ASAP Africa Welcomes Our Newest Members:
William Maeka- Field Officer- HANDEI
Jolomia Mbendana - Field Officer- Kufusa Mari
Kudzai Sagwidza- Field Officer- Kufusa MAri
Charles Tumbare- Driver

We are so excited about the growth of our ASAP family and we look forward to future expansions.

-Shannon

Join ASAP Africa at the Serenbe Market Every Saturday

Join ASAP at the Serenbe Market every Saturday from 8:00am to noon. We will be featuring locally roasted, organic fair trade coffee. ASAP is thrilled to take part in such a wonderful event. This is the perfect opportunity to come out and meet with the staff and volunteers of ASAP and get a one on one understanding of who we are and what we do.

We are also recruiting volunteers who would be interested in becoming a “Helping Hand” with ASAP and join us at our Serenbe fundraising booth. Just pick a Saturday that you would like to help and we will sign you up. Click Here for more volunteer opportunities with ASAP Africa and set your mind to make a difference today!

Serenbe Farms
8715 Atlanta Newnan Rd.
Palmetto, GA 30268
770-463-9319

A Sigh of Relief

My name is Magaret Derera. I am aged 39. My husband passed away in 2005. Since that time I have been a begger. No one of my husband’s relatives helped me since the economic hardship destroyed the extended family structure in Zimbabwe.

I was begging for everything from food, rent, to school fees. Even now I am hungry but I am not going to buy food with this Z$10,000.00 which I have just borrowed but I am going to start a project. Z$10,000.00 might be small but for me, it is a lot of money. I have never handled Z$10,000.00 since the death of my husband.

Look at my smile. I am smiling from deep down in my heart – It’s a sigh of relief.

By Mrs. Magaret Derera of St Joseph’s Cluster on 09-03-2007 talking to Senior Field Officer Samanga after forming the Rujeko Club and loaning Z$10,000.00.

Learn more about ASAP's Kufusa Mari Program

Oprah's Leadership Academy Blog Partners with ASAP Africa

ASAP has partnered with Oprah’s School to bring the latest information to you through our blog. We are extremely excited about this partnership. Through our blog you will gain a better understanding of ASAP’s philosophy’s and how they coincide with Oprah’s mission of providing education to girls in South Africa living in poverty. ASAP believes that the key to eliminating poverty is EDUCATION and we will continue to work with other organizations that follow in this belief. View our latest blog on Oprah’s School.

“Education is the way to move mountains, to build bridges, to change the world. Education is the path to the future. I believe that education is indeed freedom. With God's help, these girls will be the future leaders on the path to peace in South Africa and the world." – Oprah

All Jokes Aside

April Fool’s Day turned out to be a blast for ASAP and there were no jokes surrounding the hard work and determination of the Y.E.S. volunteers. Ten volunteers from Y.E.S. gave their time yesterday morning to assist ASAP in organizing our books for the Book/ School Supplies drive to ship to Zimbabwe and helped to get many of our office projects off of the ground. They brought so much energy that we actually finished more than expected. ASAP would like to offer a big thank you to all of our volunteers. You truly help to carry out a mission that changes lives one step at a time.

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!

Mission for Africa Celebration

ASAP participated in the Missions for Africa Celebration hosted by the International Christian Fellowship. The event was the beginning of many to come with hopes of uniting small organizations that have the heart for Africa. The program included the ICF Praise Team, Sis. Susan Pierre, VIRTUE, and many more.

The ICF mission is situated on 500-acres of land in Bong County, Liberia. When the facilities are fully completed the campus will be able to host over 300 students.

The ICF Ministries will host their 2^nd Annual African Experience Cultural Festival on Saturday April 28, 2007 11am-10pm at the Lakewood Amphitheater. For more information call 404-363-3300.

Working Together Today for a Brighter Tomorrow

This past weekend ASAP took part in “The Gathering”, a wonderful event bringing together people of all beliefs for the common goal of restoring communities. The event began on Friday night with a reception and continued Saturday with guest speakers, workshops, and even free massages. ASAP was honored to be a part of such a positive event. We had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Mike Weaver, Senator Fort, Derrick Boazman, and Stedman Graham just to name a few.

We will be setting up a booth this Saturday the 24^th at the Mission of Africa Celebration from 3:00pm to 7:00pm. This will be a wonderful opportunity for those interested in ASAP's mission to come down and meet with us personally. The location for this event is:

Fountain of Faith Missionary Baptist Church
6712 West Fayetteville Rd.
Riverdale, Georgia 30296.
Admission is free

Attention: The Meet or Beat Challenge Deadline has been extended!

The Meet or Beat Sandy Creek High School deadline for registration has been extended. Due to a sudden increase of interest in the Meet or Beat challenge ASAP is officially extending the deadline for registration. We are welcoming student and teacher volunteers that would like to spread the challenge throughout your schools and communities. Keep in mind that this is a wonderful opportunity for teachers to combine team work and international education to enhance the learning experience for the entire student body. Are you up for the CHALLENGE? For more information please contact Shannon at 770-632-7451 or e-mail shannondunn@asapafrica.org.

A + Light

Yesterday, ASAP took part in National Black AIDS/HIV Awareness Day with events hosted by CW Network. It was an absolutely amazing experience! The event was held at CW Midtown Music Complex and featured a screening of A + Light produced by Keisha Williams. Many organizations such as Someone Cares, Inc., Radio One, and Campaign to End Aids came out to show support and share information on the growing epidemic of HIV/AIDS in communities. As many people spoke on AIDS/HIV in the US we all came to the conclusion that this disease does not discriminate. This is a global problem and in order to fight it we must educate…educate..educate indiviuals across the board. We cannot sweep this under the rug. WE must be the solution to the problem and support each other on this crusade.

-Shannon

A Call to Action

“In every community there is work to be done. In every nation there are wounds to heal. In every heart there is the power to do it.” -Marianne Williamson

I have learned that whenever I give of myself and help someone else I always seem to have a feeling of joy afterwards. Sometimes we can only do a little, but knowing that you gave of your heart and touched the heart of someone else is priceless.

ASAP is currently expanding our volunteer opportunities for anyone that may be interested in working towards a brighter Africa. We encourage individuals to become a part of your communities in whatever area your specific interest may be. If you would like to step out and make a global impact please contact ASAP and request a list of our current volunteer opportunities.

-Shannon

Motivating the Mind

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. “
-Nelson Mandela

As I was looking for something new to share on this blog I ran across this quote. I thought that it was rather interesting considering that the past few blogs have been centered around education and most of the conversations that I have had lately were also geared in a similar direction. I sat back and thought about the power and meaning of each of these words education…weapon…and change.

This quote very eloquently sums up the entire mission of ASAP (To cultivate self-reliance in Southern Africa). In order to make a REAL change, a LASTING change, a BENEFICIAL change one must take the initiative to educate themselves. Only then will their work be sustainable.

After reading several news articles and talking to various people about the problems of the world, I must say that this quote reminds me of just why I do what I do. Everyday is a learning experience that you must take with you on this journey. If you learn nothing then you will go nowhere, but an educated man can not be stopped.

-Shannon

Bridging the Gap in Mathematics

Children in Zimbabwe are working hard to become the best that they can be and it is so exciting to see them reach their goals. One child that recently showed enormous progress despite the odds is Nomore. Nomore is born to the second wife, Caster, in a polygamous family. In all, there are 12 children. His father, George, is a peasant farmer and is barely able to meet the children’s educational needs, particularly secondary education. Nomore is likely to go to nearby Crossdale Secondary School for Form 1. His family will struggle to raise the fees, uniforms and stationery.

Nomore participated in the grade 7 cluster quiz competitions, representing Sagonda School and placed 3rd out of 6 participating students. What is exciting about Nomore's results is that he got a distinction in Mathematics, having been active in his SMC. Here is evidence of the impact of the BTG project at such a remote institution. Way to Go Nomore!

The Sky is the Limit

ASAP is pleased to announce that we recently won the ‘Schools for Rural Entrepreneurs’ grants competition hosted by Teach a Man to Fish. This grant will help ASAP to improve our agricultural education projects and we are so excited that we were chosen.

One of our projects that we are working very hard to raise funds for is our Rural Family Nutrition Initiative in Zimbabwe. ASAP is partnered with Global Giving in this initiative. Our goal is to provide 300 rural families with drip irrigational kits.

The future truly looks bright for ASAP and all of the endeavors that we have embarked upon. With the continued support of our friends the sky is the limit.

Education is the Key

ASAP Africa recently received the great news that we have been awarded a grant by the Rotary Club of Borrowdale Brooke and the Rotary Club of Peachtree City for funding to help provide increased literacy and enhance the education of over 41,000 students in 131 schools in Nyanga District, Zimbabwe. It was approved by the Rotary Foundation (TRF).

This is perfect timing as we are currently collecting school supplies to send to Zimbabwe by February 14, 2007. Our wish list includes:

Writing Tablets
Erasers
Felt Tip Markers
Rulers
Spiral Notebooks
Pens
Pencils
Crayons
Book Bags
Text Books

If you would like to support ASAP and the Rotary Club in our efforts to provide the children of Zimbabwe with a better education, please consider making a donation from our wish list. You may also give a gift card from Wal-Mart or Target.

We Shall Overcome

“The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace and brotherhood.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. King not only had a dream for the United States of America, but his dream included all men and women that run this human race. He realized that in order to produce a positive change we must come together as one body and lift each other up in the name of brotherly love.

When we think of the atrocities taking place in our world it may seem a bit overwhelming and discouraging. You may ask “what can I do as one person to make this world a brighter place?” That is when we need to realize that “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.” - Edmond Burke

There will always be negative and there will always be positive. We decide on an individual basis which energy we choose to put out into the world. If you believe in the hope for a secure and livable world you must first make the change within yourself. Once we change our hearts and minds and focus on the pursuit of happiness, freedom, and justice a change will surly come.

Oh, deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome some day
We'll walk hand in hand
We shall all be free
We are not afraid
We are not alone
The whole wide world around
We shall overcome some day
Lyrics from “We Shall Overcome”

-Shannon

Take the Challenge: Meet or Beat Sandy Creek!

Sandy Creek High School challenges schools, corporations, and individuals to meet or beat their efforts in raising money for ASAP Africa in support of our mission to cultivate self-reliance in Southern Africa. Last year the students raised $933.22 towards eliminating poverty in Africa and now would like to increase the total funds with your help. Give the most sustainable gift possible, meet or beat the efforts of Sandy Creek by joining a team with goals of assisting rural communities improve their own lives.

Sandy Creek High School and ASAP Africa have realized the importance of
working together, sharing knowledge, and most importantly creating sustainable change in the lives of those battling poverty. We ask that you take this opportunity to join with us and create positive change that will continue long after the work of ASAP ends. Contact ASAP by calling 770-632-7451 or e-mailing Elizabeth Bara ebara@asapafrica.org or Shannon Dunn shannondunn@asapafrica.org for more information. Join the worldwide crusade to eliminate poverty and take the challenge to ‘Meet or Beat Sandy Creek!’

Lights... Camera... Action!

ASAP Africa will be a guest on Focus Atlanta airing December 31, 2006 at Noon.

We are so excited to have the opportunity to speak with Keisha Williams, the host of Focus Atlanta and bring awareness to the mission of ASAP. Elizabeth and I will provide local viewers with information concerning the history of ASAP, our current projects, and how anyone can get involved in our Meet or Beat Challenge. Please tune in to the CW Atlanta network,formally known as UPN Atlanta, Sunday December 31, 2006 at noon and tell us what you think.

Focus Atlanta is the half-hour community relations program for the CW Atlanta network and has featured guest such as: Mayor Shirley Franklin, T.C. Carson, AID Atlanta, Kenny Leon, Clifton Powell, Eric Jerome Dickey, Hands on Atlanta, and Usher.

-Shannon

Inspiration from Zimbabwe

By Diana Takundwa, ASAP Africa Nyanga Office
A Churchgoer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. I've gone and done it for 30 long years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the preachers are wasting theirs too by giving lengthy sermons at all." This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor.

It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this... They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.

Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

When you are DOWN to nothing...God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical and our spiritual nourishment! When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say," "Jesus, could you get that for me?"


GOD BLESS

Double your Impact

Global Giving is matching donations made to organizations through their website in recognition of the holiday season. What this means is that if you make a $35 donation to ASAP's Rural Family Nutrition Initiative in Zimbabwe project today - ASAP Africa will receive $70! Your $35 donation will provide a complete home nutritional garden drip irrigation kit, so a rural family will have increased food security all year round. To the family, this means carrying water less often and harvesting crops more often. A welcomed gift indeed!

The matching donations apply to online and check donations (checks must be received by 12/28) and excludes purchase and redemption of Gift Certificates. So please make your gift today.

The RFNIZ project will improve the lives of over 6,000 families by improving the agricultural practices and providing families with relevant skills and knowledge. With the help of ASAP 300 at-risk families will have the opportunity to grow enough food to feed a family of five or more year-round. There is no greater feeling than knowing your family doesn't have to worry about where the next meal is coming from. The families that benefit from the home drip irrigation kits will be provided with appropriate training to ensure the most effective use of the kits.

During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season we must take time to think of our fellow man that is living in poverty. It is our responsibility to help those less fortunate. We all want the best for our families regardless of where we live and your gift of $35 can provide a year supply of food for an entire family. Please take the time to visit www.globalgiving.com/pr/1500/proj1434a.html and donate today.

“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them." Denis Waitley

Let's Go!

ASAP Africa is proud to announce the receipt of a new grant of $25,000 to support the Health And Nutrition Development Initiative, or HANDEI project. “HANDEI” means “Let’s go” in the Shona language of Zimbabwe. This new project will improve the lives of over 6,000 families with relevant skills and knowledge including
- training in sustainable, cost effective agriculture and perma-culture techniques
- growing and using Moringa trees as a nutritional supplement and for income generation.
(Moringa is a fast growing tree with 7 times the vitamin C of oranges, 4 times the calcium of milk, 4 times the vitamin A of carrots, 3 times the potassium of bananas and 2 times the protein of milk.)
- growing and using medicinal herbs for home remedies and for income generation
- training in psychosocial support and counseling for HIV affected households.

ASAP Africa is excited to welcome this new anonymous Foundation to our team of supporters. Although this list is small, 100% of the Foundations that have made a grant to ASAP Africa since our inception in 1994 have chosen to make subsequent grants to help us fulfill our mission of helping people in their efforts to improve their own lives.

To maximize the benefits of this new grant, ASAP Africa will include training in the use and maintenance of drip irrigation kits along with agriculture skills training. Please visit www.globalgiving to read more about how you too can get involved and support the Rural Family Health Initiative in Zimbabwe. Give the gift of food security, enhanced health & nutrition to a rural family living in Zimbabwe for only $70.

Zimbabwe has world’s highest number of orphans

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says Zimbabwe now has the highest number of orphans in the world due to a severe AIDS pandemic hitting the southern African country. The remarks by UNICEF come as the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) announced a massive US$6 million National Action Plan to improve the plight of orphans in Zimbabwe.

Since 2001 ASAP Africa has been working to address the needs of the ever increasing number of orphans in Zimbabwe, working in partnership with the SIDA to achieve the goals set out by the Zimbabwe National Action Plan for orphans and vulnerable children. ASAP is planning to scale up operations during 2007 – with new project partnerships being planned with also Catholic Relief Services, Plan International and Concern Worldwide.

"Almost one in four children in Zimbabwe . . . are now orphaned, having lost at least one parent, and this number is growing," said Dr Festo Kavishe, Unicef Representative in Zimbabwe. "HIV and AIDS have dramatically increased children’s vulnerability in recent years to the point where Zimbabwe now has the highest percentage of children who are orphans in the world." Kavishe said out of Zimbabwe’s 12 million population, 1.6 million children had been orphaned by AIDS. Zimbabwe is among the hardest hit countries in sub-Saharan Africa with official figures putting AIDS deaths at 3 000 people every week. Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Sten Rylander praised the Zimbabwe government for endorsing the National Action Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children which is being coordinated by the Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare. Zimbabwe is in the grip of an unprecedented seven-year old economic crisis that has seen most orphans and vulnerable children barely surviving.

Adapted From Zim Online (SA), 6 December

Harare is Number One!

Zimbabwe's capital Harare ranks as the world's most expensive city for expatriates due largely to the country's soaring inflation, and displacing Oslo and Tokyo from the top slots, a human resources firm said on Tuesday. "Zimbabwe had massive inflation of 1 700%," Lee Quane, general manager of ECA International, told Reuters. "Although the currency has depreciated, there was a huge increase in the cost of living for Harare," he said. Harare was the 57th most expensive city for expatriates in the 2005 survey.

The world's 10 most expensive cities for expatriates (City; Country (position in 2005 survey))

1. Harare Zimbabwe (57)
2. Luanda Angola (2)
3. Oslo Norway (1)
4. Moscow Russia (8)
5. Kinshasa Democratic Republic of Congo (15)
6. Stavanger Norway (5)
7. Copenhagen Denmark (7)
8. Seoul South Korea (10)
9. Libreville Gabon (12)
10. Tokyo Japan (3)
From News24 (SA), 5 December