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

ASAP Africa is delighted to share our summer newsletter - Click here
and read our latest news.

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.

One Name One Child Campaign

ASAP is happy to be a part of the Life and Help Foundation's new One Name One Child Campaign. This is nothing less than the biggest world internet charitable record
Add your name = you set a record + you save a child
To read more click here
To view ASAP's Bridge the Gap-Kufusa Mari Junior project, and other worthwhile initiatives to help children click here.

“Love” is Born in Malawi

The family of Lingstone Ganamba, ASAP Malawi´s Senior Field Officer was blessed with a bouncy baby girl, Chikondi, weighing 3.9 kg on Monday, May 18. Chikondi means “Love” in the local Chichewa language of Malawi.
According to the cultural practices and rituals observed by the Sena tribe of the Shire Valley, the name Chikondi was selected during a low key ceremony after a three week period. During this period the mother remained indoors and was not allowed to shake hands with others to avoid infecting the child.
Pictured here are Lingstone with his wife and their newly born child at their home in Chikwawa. ASAP Malawi management wishes Chikondi and her mother well.

Sharing Knowledge to Benefit Darfur

ASAP has been implementing the Internal Savings and Lending (ISL) methodology in Zimbabwe since 2001, since The McKnight Foundation funded our pilot project, locally known as "Kufusa Mari"- save for the future. Today funding partners include CARE, Catholic Relief Services and Plan International and over 25,000 families will gain increased household security through participation in ASAP's project.

In January 2009, when ASAP replicated our work to the Chikwawa area of Malawi, the first step was for project staff from Malawi to travel to Zimbabwe to gain first hand knowledge from ASAP's experienced staff. In July, ASAP Zimbabwe looks forward to hosting a delegation from Norwegian Church Aid-Darfur Program (NCA-DP). Through the expertise gained from ASAP Africa in Zimbabwe, the NCA-DP is build the income and food security of internally displaced persons in the South and West Darfur region.
To read more about the Kufusa Mari ISL project please click here.

Champions of Quality Education in Africa

ASAP's "Bridge the Gap - Kufusa Mari Junior" project has been declared the winner of the Early Entry Prize for the "Champions of Quality Education in Africa" collaborative competition, sponsored by ASHOKA. To read more about this winning project please click here.

A poem recited by Providence Simbarashe Majaha

MUKANDO

You people like me in Zimbabwe
I am encouraging you to work very hard
In order to produce enough food for your families
ASAP has introduced better methods of living
“Mukando” where people gather and plan their future
“Mukando” where people learn how to calculate interest.

ASAP has done its duty
Let’s play our duty too
Our local authorities, my fellow people
Let us join hands and have a better life
Let’s develop our country
Zimbabwe is our country
ASAP has introduced “Mukando”
So let’s come and join hands through “Mukando”.

You rural people
“Mukando” is waiting for you
There is room for everyone
God bless you
Thank you

A poem recited by Providence Simbarashe Majaha at the official launch of the Kufusa Mari Mutasa project 21 April 2009. Simbarashe belongs to an ISAL club at Sanyamandwe cluster. He joined the programme in October 2009 together with his mother, two sisters and two other children.

Community empowerment for sustainability through Cluster Facilitator training

by Collins Mutsvairo
ASAP has been improving the household and food security for rural families in Zimbabwe through the Internal Savings and Lending (ISAL) methodology since 2001. In each of these villages the community selects a leader, or Cluster Facilitator (CF). CFs work closely with ASAP field staff and attends supplementary training sessions offered by ASAP. It is her responsibility and privilege, as the community’s chosen representative, to share information and skills with her community during regular savings club sessions. In this way, skills and knowledge cascade throughout remote communities, reaching most villagers in a very cost effective manner.
A total of 80 CFs received additional training in the ISAL methodology in Nyanga in April under ASAP’s Rural Micro Finance project – a 5 year project partnership with CARE International funded through the Swedish International Development Agency. The CFs are ASAP’s link persons who coordinate project activities at cluster level in the communities.
The training focused on empowering the CFs on the five ISAL modules that include Member selection, Group formation, Constitution, Fund Development and Record Keeping, The workshop was facilitated by ASAP field officers headed by Joseph Miti.
Lovemore Manjoro, one of ASAP's field staff members in Mutasa is facilitating the module on Record keeping in the above picture.The CFs also discussed other issues that effect lives in their villages each and every day, including Gender based Violence, Cholera, HIV Aids, Inheritance, Child Rights and Child Abuse. In this way they are able to facilitate such discussions in their communities after the workshops. Pictured above, some participants present a drama to raise awareness of child abuse issues. Pictured here, Mrs. B Chikumba of Old Murapa cluster in Mutasa is presenting her work-group's discussions on cholera.

Care International technical specialist Ernest Musinamwana graced the occasion at the same time taking notes to enable CARE Zimbabwe to finalize the "Official" CF training manual. The fact that ASAP was chosen by CARE to enable them to finalize the Manual exemplifies the respect and fine reputation that ASAP Zimbabwe has earned by successfully improving the income and security of over 25,000 clients in Eastern Zimbabwe through various ISAL projects.

New Partnership with TLC in Malawi

ASAP Africa in Malawi is proud to announce their new project partnership with Total Land Care (TLC) in Malawi. The project will "facilitate effective collaboration between TLC and ASAP towards the shared objective of helping the economically vulnerable smallholder farmers in Chikwawa, Blantyre and other districts of Malawi to improve their food security, nutrition and income status by engaging in sustainable agriculture practices, production of high value crops using appropriate irrigation technologies and managing a village savings and loan scheme."

Since ASAP's arrival in Malawi in 2008, there has been synergy between the two like-minded organizations. The signing of this agreement marks the "official" beginning of what promises to be a long-term mutually beneficial partnership. ASAP is grateful to the helpful, encouraging and supportive attitude of the TLC team during ASAP's challenging start up period.

To read more about Total Land Care Click Here

Harvest of Hope

Irene Dunlap, co-author of best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul books for kids and preteens, contacted ASAP last year and expressed interest in our work in Zimbabwe. She made a generous contribution and mentioned that she was planning to hold a fund raiser in the Spring. At that time we had no idea what this meant.

ASAP Africa is delighted and honored that the upcoming Harvest of Hope Home and Garden Fundraising Event to Help the Hungry, will benefit ASAP's work. The event will be held May 15th and 16th in Newport Beach California.

We now know that Irene Dunlap not only writes inspirational books, but truly lives an inspiring life. For more information about the event Click here

Zimbabweans Seeking Asylum in South Africa Expected to Increase

According to a recent IRIN article, the number of Zimbabweans fleeing economic collapse in the country, numbers so high they are usually associated with a country at war, is expected to continue to increase under the new unity government.

"The nature of Zimbabwean migration makes it difficult to determine the numbers involved, and estimates range from one million to more than three million people, a figure further complicated by those criss-crossing the border for a variety of reasons, but despite the numbers involved, South Africa has leaned towards accepting rather than preventing migration.

According to the Refugee Act, if someone is inside the country seeking asylum, regardless of how they got into the country they cannot be deported and they can apply for documentation. South Africa acts contrary to its own Act."

To read the entire article Click here

Kufusa Mari Project Launched in Mutasa District

By Regai Tsunga
Tuesday was a day of celebration in the Mutasa District of Eastern Zimbabwe, as the ASAP Africa Zimbabwe team finally launched the ISL project. Over ninety women and children were presented with certificates recognizing their achievement and proficiency in managing internal savings and lending activities.The launch came almost one year after the signing of the project agreement by Plan International and ASAP. During the three-year project partnership ASAP will improve the household security and income for over 2000 individuals mostly women and children through providing training in the internal savings and lending methodology. This delay was caused by the unilateral ban of NGO operations by the Government of Zimbabwe in 2008 following the disputed “harmonized” national elections. The ban was only lifted in September 2008 at which time programming also resumed. The day was marked with testimonies by Kufusa Mari participants showcasing products, demonstrating how the project was making a difference in their lives through the use of drama, and encouraging others to participate. Mrs. Portia Chitendeni explains: ”We are three in our club and in October last year we borrowed zwd 90,000 from the project. If was not easy because we were grappling with inflation, but we managed to buy 6 kgs of sugar that we exchanged with three buckets of maize. We sold them at 600 Rand and we changed 50 rands for us to return the zwd 90,000 we had borrowed. We sent someone o South Africa to buy some blankets and from there up to date we are buying and selling property. We never lack anything to eat or school fees for our children and our husbands are really supportive of this project. Kufusa Mari Project has really changed our lives.” Pictured here, Headman Sanyamandwe addresses the crowd that gathered at Pafiwa School for the celebration. Government officials from various ministries were present in support of the launch and these included officers from the Ministries of Women Affairs, Education, Local Government, Youth, Agriculture, Social Welfare and Health. ASAP' Country Director, Regai Tsunga (purple tie) hosted the Program Support Manager from Plan International, Dr Batholomew Mupeta and a team of other Plan staff that included the Resource Mobilization Manager, Mr Makoni and the Mutasa Program Unit Manager, Mr Stanley Dawa. Dr Mupeta expressed profound satisfaction at the progress the project was making and looked forward to increased cooperation between his organization and ASAP. He encouraged the Mutasa community to participate in this community managed micro finance project and improve the quality of their lives. Mr. Tsunga recognized the hard work and achievement of ASAP's Kufusa Mari field team, a group of talented professionals headed up by Joseph Miti (on the right) in Zimbabwe, as they enjoy the day and participate in the celebrations. Tsunga also expressed joy that the project was progressing well despite the previous challenges relating to the NGO ban, political polarization, restrictive and counterproductive national monetary policies and the hyper-inflation. He said the use of multiple currencies notably the USD and Rand following the suspension of Zimbabwe dollar as official tender will result in enhanced project impact.

The Big Read

Next week, April 20-26, is Global Action Week. The Global Campaign for Education is asksing individuals and communities to read a story and sign a petition on behalf of the millions of people worldwide who cannot read or go to school. On June 16, the Big Read book and collection of petition signatures will be delivered to President Obama. Click here to go to The Big Read to learn more about joining this effort.

ASAP’s BTG Project Contributes to Ministry of Education 100 DAY TARGET

by Regai Tsunga
In Zimbabwe the Ministry of Education, under the new inclusive unity government, has identified provision of text books as a top priority. A 100 day target has been set to reduce the student to text book ration to 1:3 to allow for meaningful use by pupils. For some schools, the textbook to pupil ratio had gone up to 1:40. In such a situation the children sit in threes with the one at the center having the book directly in front while the other two flank the child at the center and read from either side.ASAP is happy to be contributing to this target again this year through the Bridge the Gap Math teacher training project, which is already making a difference at Grade 7 level by providing Math revision materials for pupils in 2009. Previously, through a Rotary sponsored a literacy book drive, by working together, the Peachtree City Rotary Club, along with the Fayette Daybreak, Fayetteville & Borrowdale Brooke (Harare) Rotary Clubs, ASAP was able to provide two 20 foot shipping containers of gently used reading and text books to improve the situation in the BTG schools.

ASAP was honored by a recent visit by the Provincial Education Director for Manicaland, Mr. Peter Muzawazi. During discussions, he informed ASAP’s Bridge the Gap Project Manager, Collins Mutsvairo (center), of the new initiative.From a textbook survey conducted by the Ministry in the province, the text book situation in most schools had deteriorated to unprecedented proportions. After the teacher, the textbook is regarded as the next most important and indispensable resource for effective teaching and learning.

Small World Indeed

Tom Arsenault, ASAP's President, enjoyed sharing information about ASAP's program last week-end on a spectacularly beautiful spring day on the riverfront in Savannah GA.

Michelle Riley, from the Freeplay Foundation happened to stop by ASAP's information booth. Michelle is the only US staff member of this Foundation, which is based in South Africa and the UK. ASAP provided Freeplay's hand cranked radios to rural schools in Zimbabwe for years. The majority of rural schools where ASAP works do not have electricity, so with Freeplay radios, schools could access educational programming as well as short wave broadcasts which were not subject to government controls.

There are no coincidences and we look forward to building on the synergy between Freeplay and ASAP as we work to improve the daily lives of the rural poor in Africa.

Savings Brings Smiles

By Regai Tsunga
It is once again all smiles as these ladies from Sherukuru Village in Mutasa go through their routine savings and lending Session. These pictures, taken by Collins Mutsvairo today, show that saving in USD has brought much joy and relief to ASAP’s VSL groups. The value of savings is now guaranteed and the prospects for handsome returns on their investments are huge. Click here to read more about ASAP's VSL project.
Having seen all their savings in Zimbabwe dollars eroded and made worthless manure by the rampaging inflation, it was all gloom and doom for the otherwise enterprising rural women. The dollarisation of the Zimbabwe economy has resulted in the virtual condemnation of the local currency as all goods and services are now sold in the stable USD, South African Rand and the Botswana Pula.

ASAP Field Officers continue to maintain high visibility within the communities to instill confidence given the previous recent negative experiences with the Zimbabwe Dollar.

ASAP Africa Spring Newsletter

We are delighted to share our spring newsletter with you today.
Click here to learn about all the new activities going on at ASAP in Malawi and Zimbabwe.

We welcome your questions & comments and appreciate your interest & support.

CORDAID official visits ASAP projects in Malawi...pledges financial support

“What is crucial in your programs is that the poor themselves harness their own capabilities to become the real actors and agents in development, shaping all development processes and projects affecting them”. This comment came from Mark Rietveld, CORDAID´s Program Officer responsible for Entrepreneurship Sector, after spending the day hosted by the ASAP Malawi team on March 26. Mark visited ASAP in Malawi to get a sense of what was happening on the ground and establish a long-term relationship. His visit included a meeting with management staff at the ASAP Malawi Offices and field visits to the project sites.

The visit gave Mark an opportunity to hear and see for himself what ASAP had achieved within three months with financial support from CORDAID.
After the meeting with management it was time to match office reports with what had been done at community level. In this picture Mark listens to presentations from local leaders at Jailosi village.Here he was briefed by community leaders and Village Savings and Lending group leaders. The local leaders commended ASAP for changing the mindset of community members and giving them skills and knowledge to be able to find solutions to their economic problems using the locally available resources.

They also expressed their desire for ASAP to increase the number of field staff so that the program can service more villages within the community in view of the high demand for ASAP services.
In this picture Mark is welcomed at Chazunzika village by dancing VS&L group members.
Pictured here are jubilant VS&L group members dancing after explaining and showing the visitor how they mobilize savings and lend the money among themselves as Mark looks on.

ASAP in tireless efforts to mitigate the impact of looming hunger in Chikwawa ...distributes fifty treadle pumps to affected households in Malawi

In a move that has been described as first of its kind by both the District Commissioner (DC) and District Agricultural Development Officer (DADO) for Chikwawa, ASAP in collaboration with its developmental partner, Total Land Care (TLC) distributed treadle pumps and farm input packs to fifty community members that have been severely hit by the widespread drought in Chikwawa district. This was done with a view to helping the affected community members to start small-scale irrigation. Pictured here are ASAP Program Manager (left), Victor Katchika-Jere, receiving a truckload of treadle pumps and farm inputs from TLC´s Irrigation Specialist, Mlozi Banda.The irrigation package comprises user-friendly and modern “super money maker” treadle pumps and accessories, maize, bean, tomato and onion seed and fertilizer, and is worth US $360. In a bid to fight dependency syndrome and enhance the self-help element, ASAP distributed the irrigation packages to beneficiaries at subsidized prices and not as free handouts.
Before distributing the irrigation package ASAP in collaboration with TLC organised a two-day small-scale irrigation training for the fifty recipients. The group comprised men and women from six villages. Participants were trained in treadle pump assembling, dismantling and maintenance, plot layout and construction of canals. In the picture here, training participants brave the scorching sun to take part in a plot layout session.At the end of the two days of hard work and in-depth discussion, women participants could not help to take to the floor to celebrate their acquisition of new skill and knowledge in style. “This has been a life-changing experience. How I wish ASAP had started their activities in our communities ten years ago! Our situation would have changed for the better by now,” said Chief Chazunzika´s wife who was one of the participants to the training and is captured in this picture leading a group of dancing women.
ASAP is implementing the Chimvano pa Chuma Project (CCP), “Unity for Economic Growth” in the Chichewa language in Chikwawa. The goal of the three-year project is to enhance the socio-economic status at household level for 16,433 beneficiaries living in marginalized communities.

Prayers for ASAP Field Officer's Family

Kenneth Bariri's wife and his 9 month year old son were attacked by cholera on Thursday 19 March 2009. Nurses at Elim Hospital treated the patients and sprayed the whole family members by disinfectants. The two are now in stable condition under detention and close surveillance at the hospital. We pray that they soon recover.

There have been over 4,037 deaths from cholera in Zimbabwe since the outbreak began in August 2008. ASAP field officers are actively involved in cholera prevention in the areas they serve, working together with Catholic Relief Services and UNICEF.

In Malawi last week, Jeanette Batiste was surprise the discover her neighbor's child was also suffering from the disease. To date there have been three cholera cases reported in the Chikwawa region of Malawi.

Chikwawa District Faces Looming Hunger...as widespread drought destroys crops

Submitted by Victor Katchika-Jere
Pictured here is Mrs Mashaweni of Jailosi Village in Ndakwera whose maize crop has been affected beyond redemption. Chikwawa is one of the districts in the Shire Valley where ASAP is implementing the Chimvano pa Chuma Project (CCP). The project comprises Village Savings and Lending (VS&L) Project along with small-scale irrigation and conservation agriculture activities in order to improve livelihoods of the beneficiaries and enhance food security at household level. The demand for such initiatives has heightened due to the continuous and widespread dry spell, which the district is experiencing and has lasted for over four weeks.
The absence of rains coupled with hot weather conditions have led to serious crop conditions. The two project sites for ASAP in the district; Ndakwera and Kabwatika are among the hardest hit according to the recent press release from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
In these two areas, the maize crop has reached permanent wilting point such that it would not recuperate even if the rains started falling normally today. While there has been total loss of some maize, the drought tolerant crops like sorghum and pigeon peas are withstanding the dry spell. Thanks to ASAP´s seed multiplication initiative beneficiaries are able to access these drought tolerant varieties!
In view of this development, ASAP is mobilizing communities around small-scale irrigation. ASAP has already planned to provide 50 treadle pumps at subsidized prices to some of the affected community members to start small-scale irrigation using the dams which were constructed to harvest water at the time when rains were falling normally.

Schools in Zimbabwe Open

Schools finally opened in Zimbabwe on March 2nd. Normally the school year begins in January, so there is some catching up to do! This is the fifth and final year of ASAP's Bridge the Gap (BTG) Math education project and teachers and students are working hard to produce results.ASAP, and all other organizations working to improve the quality of life in the Nyanga district of rural Zimbabwe came together for a meeting with Acting District Education Officer Mr. Haukozi before school reopened. It is because of Mr. Haukozi's written request for the BTG project in 2004 that ASAP works in Nyanga District today. As he stated in his letter "...Math stimulates logical thing and develops inquisitive minds."

Cholera in Zimbabwe

Medical experts have forecast that a worst-case scenario in Zimbabwe's rampaging cholera epidemic could see earlier predictions double to 123 000 cases and go beyond May this year. Just over a week ago, according to the Zimbabwean Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR), the epidemic passed Africa's worst, in Angola in 2007, when over 82 000 people were infected with the highly infectious water-borne disease and 3 204 died. Late last year the World Health Organisation estimated that the worst-case figure could reach 60 000 cases, a level passed already in January. By Friday last week the WHO had recorded 84 027 cases, with 3 894 deaths recorded in Zimbabwe.

Your donation to ASAP today will help prevent the transmission of cholera in the rural villages of Eastern Zimbabwe. CLICK HERE to donate now.