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.

Creative Synergy

ASAP is honored to be a part of Seeds to Cedars a beautifully inspiring creative endeavor by Jessica Davis. Please click here for a preview.


About the Film Maker
I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia. My father was employed
by an oil company based there and I did not come to live in the
states permanently until I was 13. During my time there I was present
to witness the Gulf War. Since that time I have felt strongly drawn
to philanthropic causes and ending global suffering. The task felt so
large, and impossible. During the course of my life, I have witnessed
the “impossible” become the possible. This inspired me to have the
desire to make others aware of how they can not only make the impossible
happen, but allow others to also experience the miracle of it.
Assisting one life can in turn assist the world.

Jessica Davis – Film Maker, Small Business Owner
filmmaker@seeds2cedars.com

".. by looking at the children"

ASAP field officers live in the rural communities where they work, becoming a resource and asset to that very community. From this perspective, the positive impact of the village savings and lending, small business and agricultural skills training are obvious, just by looking at the children in the village. But to donors from the outside of these communities it may not be so obvious. Zimbabwe is experiencing unprecedented hardships, with inflation reaching over 400,000,000%!
During a meeting last week between ASAP, Concern World Wide (CWW) and the European Commission, the question posed after the first year of the three year project - does active participation in savings clubs REALLY improve lives in this environment?
Joseph Miti, ASAP’s Field Operations Manager had to do some convincing, explaining how the 500 resilient and resourceful women already involved the project have adapted the savings club methodology to meet the unprecedented challenges and hardships of life in Zimbabwe today.
The meeting ended on a happy note as ASAP’s Country Director Regai Tsunga and CWW’s Adgar Montalbaa agree to continue the project partnership to work together to benefit an additional 1,000 women and girls in the Katarere area of rural Zimbabwe in the next two years.

Savings and Sorghum in Malawi

Nellie Chisale & Lingstone Ganamba, ASAP Africa Malawi field officers are ready to go out to the communities for a series of progress review meetings.

Getting there can be half the battle now, during the height of the rainy season.

Pictured here, Lingstone and Nellie monitor fertilizer application and scout the garden for a possible attack of pests and disease. This is part of ASAP's sorghum seed multiplication project at Jailosi in Ndakwera area. There are fourteen community members that are participating in the sorghum seed multiplication project in Ndakwera area alone. Each community member has a 0.2 of a hectare. All the fourteen are members to different Village Savings & Lending savings club groups which will be trained by ASAP in managing internal savings and lending and small business skills training.

A Picture = 1,000 Words

Saving Lives in Zimbabwe

For many of us it is difficult to visualize what exactly Cholera prevention looks like in rural Africa. Knowledge is the key where resources are scarce. Life-saving re hydration for someone stricken by Cholera can be as basic as sugar, salt and water. Alfred Jagada, ASAP's Project Manager, shares these photos from a recent staff training session in rural Zimbabwe where over 3,300 have already died from the disease. ASAP is working together with Catholic Relief Services and UNICEF to help prevent the spread of Cholera in the Eastern districts of Zimbabwe.

ASAP Working Together with TLC

In order to ensure food and economic security at household level, ASAP works in close collaboration with Total Land Care (TLC) an organization which specializes in conservation agricultural technologies. TLC, through ASAP, recently supplied twenty-eight community members with sorghum and pigeon pea seed for multiplication. The rural farmers entered into an agreement with ASAP to buy their yield at an agreed price with a view to ensuring that the seed benefits more households within the community. ASAP provides technical support to the participating community members and pictured here is a happy farmer (in a white T-shirt) explaining to ASAP Field Officers Lingstone and Nellie (from left to right) how the pigeon pea crop is fairing in his garden at Kabwatika in Chikwawa district. This was during one of the recent monitoring visits.

ASAP Program Expansion with Catholic Relief Services

ASAP Zimbabwe, in partnership with Catholic Relief Services and UNICEF, will be expanding our work to Chimanimani District. The mountainous area is 100 km south of ASAP's Mutare-base and borders Mozambique. Pictured here, Chimanimani Rural District Council Chief Exec. Officer, Mr Harahwa welcomes ASAP's Country Director, Regai Tsunga to the District at an introductory meeting held yesterday. The two discussed ASAP's activities and how best to work together to benefit the residence. The work will not be easy. With a population of of over 92,800, 48% who are suffering from food insecurity, and 35 deaths from the recent Cholera epidemic ravaging the nation, ASAP's program combining long-term household security and cholera prevention will play an important role in alleviating suffering in the District.

UNICEF supports ASAP's work in Zimbabwe

Today, ASAP in Zimbabwe is proud that UNICEF has contributed to their ability to effectively prevent Cholera by contributing a vehicle. As part of ASAP's ongoing partnership with Catholic Relief Services, ASAP joins together with the international community in working relentlessly to prevent the spread of Cholera in Eastern Zimbabwe. Pictured here, Michael Nemaunga, Collins Mutsvairo (center)ASAP's Bridge the Gap Education Projects Manager, and David Nyakatawa are happy knowing that the children of Zimbabwe will receive life saving information on Cholera prevention during this urgent time of need.

Save Zimbabwe Now

Please click on the link to sign the petition to stop the suffering in Zimbabwe Today!
Please sign this petition now

A Quote from President Obama

"To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

ASAP works to prevent the spread of Cholera

Over 2,200 people have died from the Cholera epidemic ravaging Zimbabwe today. With over 42,000 cases reported, ASAP has shifted focus to respond to this urgent need. How to prevent contracting and spreading this highly contagious disease is crucial information urgently needed by the population. ASAP is responding and pictured here, Joseph Miti, ASAP Africa's Field Operations Manager is working to develop an immediate action plan.

Does Education Save Lives?

According to a Jan 8 IRIN article "Education, a long-neglected sector in emergency response according to some aid groups, is gradually being seen as vital in crises, but donor reluctance to fund it persists partly because they do not see it as life-saving, aid experts say."

In Zimbabwe, ASAP knows only too well how education becomes a low priority in times of crisis.

"We must shift our obsession from how people are dying to how people are living.” Read the entire article- CLICK HERE

"We are happy with the reception so far"

Last week the ASAP Africa Malawi team launched the Village Savings and Lending project and began community field work after months of preparations. The team reports a good turn out of people coming to the meetings, especially considering that it is rainy season, when most people are busy in their gardens. Pictured here, Nellie Chisale, ASAP's field officer, is addressing chiefs and leaders prior to the general communities held in the Ndakwera area.

Why doesn't anyone care???

Our local mayor decided the other day that our city is now his. "Peaceful City is mine." he declared. So the recent election was for not. He has refused to leave his post even though he lost the election. People are at a loss and don't know what to do. He is even having the police arrest members of the opposition who are clamoring for his departure, all on trumped up charges.
It is quite a predicament we are in. Some folks are calling for the state militia to come in and depose him but he has a lot of friends in local politics and it seems no one has the political will to take him out.
Meanwhile the local services continue to decline which is why he lost the election. This is a city that recently was the fruit basket of the South and now imports all it's fruit. People in Peaceful City are suffering and no one on the outside seems to care. Can this be real or just a bad dream?? ;)

It's A Small World Indeed

Janette Batiste, ASAP's Malawi Program Coordinator enjoyed a bit of leisure time in Zanzibar last week and shares this photo.