A Perfect Fit

ASAP's Tools For Empowerment project will support entrepreneurs world-wide.

ASAP is pleased to announce our new partnership with The Salesian Missions. Their mission statement of “Helping others to help themselves”, matches the ASAP philosophy which makes this partnership a perfect fit. Working together, ASAP will support graduates from The Salesians’ Don Bosco Vocational Training Centers throughout the world, providing tool kits for each specific field of study.  Entrepreneurs world-wide will prosper from ASAP's new Tools For Empowerment project.

In the US, ASAP looks forward to offering career and volunteer opportunities that will result in tangible improvement in the lives of families around the world. ASAP will collect new and used donated tools at the Tools For Empowerment Depot, where we will refurbish and package donated tools into kits. ASAP will work to make the project sustainable and green by re-purposing and recycling selected materials to generate income.

No Savings for a Rainy Day

Nearly half of Americans do not have savings accounts, according to a a story that aired on NPR's Morning Edition today. Click here to learn more and discover why this lack of a safety net is so detrimental.

As ASAP expands our work to bring Internal Savings and Lending (IS&L) home and works to alleviate poverty here in the US, the first step is to understand the problem. The face of US poverty has its own unique intricacies. Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo helped us understand global poverty with such mastery in their book Poor Economics.  It is primarily important that one gains a true understanding of the problem because a solution based on false assumptions is doomed to failure.

Rourke  O’Brien, from the New America Foundation provides some excellent insight, in his recent article “‘We Don’t Do Banks’: Financial Lives of Families on Public Assistance." Another amazing resource is the newly released Assets and Opportunity scorecard.  Click here.

Through IS&L,  ASAP has witnessed the transformation of rural communities in Africa since 2001. As we embark on the next leg of our journey, we look forward to learning more, gaining and sharing new insights.

Presidential Politics in Zimbabwe

South African President Jacob Zuma raises a toast with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

Robert Mugabe, who has been president of Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980, is up for re-election this year. Here's an interesting article that explains some of the regional politics.  It promises to be an exciting year ahead.

Holiday Greetings

 May your efforts be appreciated

Your gifts gratefully received

 

Your 
holiday feast cooked to perfection

That every child's gift brings giant smiles

And may you be eternally grateful for all your blessings.

From all of us at ASAP

Improving Math Education in Primary School

A special thanks goes out to Patrick at Just Math Tutorials. Patrick, a former math professor at Vanderbilt University, has developed a phenomenal set of on-line math training videos. He has generously made these tools accessible to ASAP as we continue to work to strengthen our ‘Improving Math Education in Primary School’ Project (IMEPS) in Zimbabwe. Of course, we are grateful for the generous continuing grant from The Flora Family Foundation that makes this work possible.

Click here to read ASAP's newsletter.

New Resources for Youth Opportunities

The Youth Economic Opportunities library is a welcome new resource dedicated to helping organizations like ASAP, working to increase economic opportunities for young people. The site is a place to connect with others working in the field and share knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned. Click here to learn more. 

2012 Improving Math Education in Primary School in Zimababwe

Thanks to a continuing grant from The Flora Family Foundation, in 2012 ASAP is working to increase the learning outcomes of  our Improving Math Education in Primary School (IMEPS) project. This work has been ongoing since the year 2000, working with over 100 rural primary schools in eastern Zimbabwe. By working with the Curriculum Development Unit in Zimbabwe, ASAP looks forward to introducing access to new teacher training materials and videos to help teachers improve their math knowledge and teaching techniques in the future.

With the presidential election looming and the census being carried out during 2012, there will be many disruptions in education.  It is the ideal year for ASAP to step back and focus on strengthening the IMEPS project.  ASAP looks forward to launching the new project when these dedicated educators are back at their schools and political interference subsides.

How Fortunate

Godspeed to Pat Bannon!

Pat Bannon will cycle the toughest mountains of the French Alps for ASAP!

Pat Bannon, of Leeds England is taking a 5-day cycle challenge for ASAP Africa this months. It is Pat's initiative that sparked ASAP's 1st Annual Circle Our World With Love campaign.  With 19 days left, together we have circled over 1/4 one quarter of the globe -6,469 miles. There is still time to complete your mileage dedication form. Click here. Join ASAP's superheros. Show your compassion

We wish Pat great weather and all the best as he cycles through the heart of the French Alps, tackling the toughest mountain climbs made famous by the Tour de France. To donate to Pat's effort click here.

Double Your Recurring Donation to ASAP!

Between now and Sept. 7^th, your recurring donation will be matched dollar for dollar when you set up your monthly pledge to ASAP on the Global Giving website. Click here to learn more.To take advantage of this offer, just go to this link and select the orange “donate” button. You will be asked to select a” frequency” as well as an amount. Please act today and double the impact of your pledge to help ASAP cultivate self reliance today.

A New Global Forum for Teachers

Teachers Without Borders has announced a new social network, a global community of teachers working to connect education and human welfare. A place to connect, share experiences and resources, and support colleagues from around the world. The good news is membership is FREE. Click here to join and gain access to colleagues, information and resources you can use for your professional needs and goals, and to support education initiatives in your schools and communities.

Help on the Way for Girls in East Africa

Education for Girls Benefits Society

Girls in East Africa will receive a boost from a new initiative to provide learning opportunities, life and livelihood skills for under-served youth. It has been well documented that more education for girls translates into later marriage, smaller families, increased child survival and reduced incidence of HIV/AIDS. In other words, it benefits the whole society. To learn more about this exciting new initiative click here.

At ASAP we know that students' merely attending school is not enough. When teachers are unskilled, unmotivated and schools are under-resourced, the need to improve the quality of education is as urgent as assisting girls to attend school. This is why, in addition to funding school fees since 1994,  our work to improve math education in primary school has been ongoing in Zimbabwe since 2000. Click here to support this important work today.

Elections and Education in Zimbabwe

Students in Zimbabwe inspire ASAP's 1st annual Circle Our World With Love campaign

Yesterday Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe told the UN High Commissioner that presidential elections will be held in 2012, although no exact date has been set for this process. Click here to read more.

You may be surprised to learn what impact elections may have on education in Zimbabwe in the coming year.

According to UNESCO "Parts of the world are becoming a deadly place to be a student, teacher or education official.... Accurate global figures do not exist for the number of teachers, students or officials killed each year, or for the other types of attack such as abductions, torture and threats of violence..."  To read more about the proposed actions being taken to prevent violence in schools in the upcoming year in Zimbabwe click here.

During 2012 ASAP has suspended our Bridge the Gap- Improving Math Education in Primary School project. Choosing instead to use these uncertain and potentially dangerous times to strengthen our ongoing work in 141 rural schools in rural Zimbabwe. Our hearts, prayers and compassion are with these teachers and students and are the motivation for our 1st annual Circle Our World With Love campaign. To learn more click here.

Schools Opened This Week in Zimbabwe

The new school term opened this week in Zimbabwe with teachers threatening to strike, if the government fails to meet their demands by June.“Teachers returned to work for the new term very angry and apprehensive, because the government still has not reviewed salaries and conditions of service. Also,violence against teachers has once again been on the rise and there has been no attempt to secure the working environment,” Zhou told SW Radio Africa on Tuesday. To read more click here.

There's a presidential election being planned in Zimbabwe in 2012 and rural education suffers when politics prevail.  The unpredictable and often dangerous environment demoralizes teachers. In 2008 all humanitarian organizations (including ASAP) were forbidden to operate. This is why ASAP has decided to temporarily suspend our ongoing Improving Math Education Primary School Project during 2012, using the time to examine what has worked during the past 7 years and bringing in new expertise to increase learning outcomes and results in the future.

If you struggle to find information from Zimbabwe, an excellent source of independent news is SW Radio Africa.

Rethinking Humanitarianism & Youth

According the IRIN, almost 40 percent of the global population is under 24; over one billion people - one in five people - are aged 15-24; in one third of the world’s countries, more than 60 percent of the population is under 30; and 85 percent of the world’s youth live in the developing world.

As Ross Mountain, of Development Assistance Research Associates stated at the recent Dubai International Humanitarian Aid & Development Conference & Exhibition, “Without investments early on, youth remain trapped in situations of poverty and dependency, and are easily co-opted into criminality, social conflict, and patterns of inter-generational violence.”

The education and development needs of these children must be given the highest priority and their role in development reexamined as vulnerable countries face increasing food prices, urbanization, migration, the impact of climate change and population growth. To read more click here.

Thanks to the Meriwether County Rotary Club

ASAP is proud that the The Meriwether County Rotary Club has chosen to contribute to our work to cultivate self-reliance again this year. We enjoyed sharing a little bit about our work with the club and look forward to staying in contact with the delightful members that welcomed us so warmly and made us feel at home. Pictured here are ASAP's Executive Director, Elizabeth Bara, Rotary President Jon Hale and President elect Aaron Mabon. The support of the Rotary means so much.

Child Labor on the Rise in Zimbabwe

A 2010 UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report states that 13 percent of Zimbabwean children are engaged in child labor. Of the 1.3 million orphans living in Zimbabwe today it is estimated that 100,000 are living on their own in child headed households. To read more go to http://www.irinnews.org/Report/94939/ZIMBABWE-Child-labour-on-the-rise

Click here to learn more about ASAP's efforts to help these orphans and vulnerable children. Remember, one of the best ways to nurture and support these isolated children is to keep them in school.

Congratulations to Nyanga High School

The Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council has released a report on 2011 secondary school examination performances showing urban schools fell far behind rural schools1 Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations. Nyanga High School, in Manicaland Province, came out on top! Manicaland is the province where ASAP has been working to help improve education since 1995, and the report indicates schools here performed very well overall. To read more click here.
To read more about ASAP's work to improve education click here.

Follow the Leeder - Pat Bannon

Pat Bannon, of Leeds England will take a 5-day cycle challenge this September for ASAP Africa.

We challenge you to follow Pat's lead and help us circle the world with our compassion for Africa in 2012. You can register a walk, jog, run, swim, crawl,bike-ride, horse-ride....you name it. Our goal is to cover 24,860 miles (40,008 km); circling the world with compassion, while having fun and raising funds to help families in Zimbabwe. To register your event for ASAP Africa on Razoo, just click here. It is easy to get started:
1. For "Nonprofit" select "A Self-help Assistance Program"
2. Name your event
3. Select "Create a page"
Upload pictures, videos and tell your story. Your supporters can easily contribute directly to your event. You can even download an iPhone App to track your event. In January 2013 prizes will be awarded to all participants.

Pat has taken the first step. We challenge others to follow his lead. Pat's ride will take him through the heart of the French Alps, tackling the toughest mountain climbs made famous by the Tour de France. To read more about this exciting adventure click here.
To donate to Pat's effort click here.
Where will your compassion take you? It's up to you. If you have any questions please call ASAP (770)632-7451.

1.5 Million Zimbabwean Refugees in South Africa

IRIN’s latest film, Out of Sight, explores the lives of blind undocumented migrants from Zimbabwe as they try and eke out a living begging on the streets of Johannesburg.
Watch the Film
Read the Report Film
Inside Zimbabwe, the work of 29 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Masvingo province, including Care International, were suspended by the government on Wednesday, raising worries of a crackdown similar to one that preceded elections in 2008.
Click here to read more.

Happy Valentines Day!

What better day than Valentine's Day to say thanks again to all our donors. With your help, as we work together, our labor of love continues to empower women and their families in Zimbabwe.

Typhoid Hits Zimbabwe

With the warm rains falling in Zimbabwe, highly contagious diseases are increasing. This week a typhoid outbreak has been reported near the capital, Harare. At least 90 people were admitted to hospital and over 600 affected.To learn more about the signs and symptoms of this disease click here.

Today, especially in rural Zimbabwe, many are still ignorant of how many common diseases are spread. "Snake oil salesmen" are a global phenomenon. Click here to read more. In Africa, here disinformation can be deadly, your support for ASAP's disease prevention training through rural Health clubs is desperately needed now. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" - and saves lives!

Quotation from Martin Luther King Jr.

Throughout the year, Regai Tsunga, ASAP's Country Director in Zimbabwe, includes the following quotation from Martin Luther King Jr. on his email messages.

"When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love. Where evil men would seek to perpetuate an unjust status quo, good men must seek to bring into being a real order of justice"

To read an interview the Regai Tsunga, click here.

Taking a moment to reflect on MLK's inspiring "I have a dream speech" is a great way to commemorate and honor this truly great man.

Growing risk of Cholera in Zimbabwe

With the onset of the rains in Zimbabwe, the risk of waterborne diseases is on the rise. The inability of vulnerable rural populations to access safe water and basic sanitation exacerbates the risk. To read more click here. The 2008/9 Cholera outbreak infected nearly 100,000 and 4,000 people died. Today, especially in rural Zimbabwe, many are still ignorant of how waterborne diseases are spread. Your support for ASAP's disease prevention training through rural Health clubs is desperately needed now. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" - and saves lives!

New Year's Greeting

All of us at ASAP Africa look forward to being part of the the positive changes in the year ahead. Click Here. Happy 2012!

North Korea & Zimbabwe

Like the Democrats and Republicans here in the US, the major political parties in Zimbabwe, the MDC and ZanuPF, rarely agree. The perspective on the passing of Kim Jong-il is no exception; North Korea provided training in the 1980's to the Zimbabwean military, which contributed to the Gukurahundi conflict.

Nhlanla Dube, spokesman for the MDC, said it is sad when someone dies before making any reparation or public apology for crimes against humanity. While Zanu-PF activist Goodson Nguni said the North Koreans did not kill any Zimbabweans and that Kim Jong-il deserved a kindly thought.

To read more click here.

Historic "Hanging Tree" in Zimbabwe Falls

The 200 year old Msasa tree came down on the same day that President Robert Mugabe planted a tree to launch the country's national tree planting and reforestation campaign. Dubbed the "Hanging tree", icons of the first uprising against white settlers, including the ancestral grandmother of the nation Mbuya Nehanda, were said to have been hanged from the tree in 1898. Some believe this to be an omen that the tree represented "powerful forces" and this may signal the dawn of a new era. To read more click here.

Getting to Zero

Today, World AIDS Day, is an opportunity for people to unite in the fight against HIV/AIDS, to remember those who have died of the disease and to celebrate accomplishments. Despite worldwide efforts, 33.3 million people are living with the disease today.
The goal of the 2011 "Getting to Zero" campaign is Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination,Zero AIDS-related deaths by 2015. To learn more click here.

In Zimbabwe, ASAP works to strengthen communities to support rural Home Base Care Centers where the needs of those suffering from HIV/AIDS and other diseases are cared for in a supportive environment. ASAP also provides training to community leaders to share disease prevention strategies with others in her village. Your support for this training, on World Aids Day, is a wonderful way to have a grassroots impact and commemorate World AIDS Day.

Happy Thanksgiving

In the USA, on Thursday we stop to reflect and give thanks for all our blessings great and small. At ASAP we are grateful to you because you make our work possible. Thank you for your continued support! We wish you a safe and happy festive season.

Challenges to Educating Girls

"Poverty, abuse and cultural practices are preventing a third of Zimbabwean girls from attending primary school and 67 percent from attending secondary school, denying them a basic education, according to a recent study which found alarming dropout rates for girls." To read more click here.

To access Amnesty International's report "Left Behind, the Impact of Zimbabwe's Mass Forced Evictions on the Right to Education" click here.

ASAP provides school fees for selected girls to attend secondary school in the areas where we implement the Improving Math Education In Primary School project. Your donation will give a promising young girl hope for the future. Click here to donate now.

ANOTHER LIST

Zimbabwe has been ranked 109 out of 110 countries for prosperiy. It is truly a shame for a country with such potential. See the list by clicking here.

TWB Features ASAP Africa's Hema Soni

In their latest newsletter Teachers Without Borders have chosen the feature Hema Soni, one of the teachers currently working with ASAP Africa in Zimbabwe as part of our Improving Math Education in Primary School Project. To read more about Hema click here.As part of her personal belief system, Hema shares:"I believe that volunteering is essential to humanity, when we volunteer with love and compassion we strengthen our inner spiritual core and it brings out the best in us. We not only develop an understanding of our fellow human beings but of ourselves too. I believe that charitable organizations can and do more to improve the lives of the most disadvantaged people in our world than even governments."

To read more about the TWB's partnership with ASAP click here.

Autumn Newsletter

Click here to read ASAP's Autumn Newsletter.

Double Your Donation Impact

TODAY ONLY, your donation will be matched through Global Giving.
Please give generously!

Making a difference?

There are two approaches to evaluating the impact of our social investments. “Metric-heads” believe that quantitative measures are the only conclusive method while “Story Huggers” know that figures and facts can never tell the whole story.
At ASAP we KNOW that ASAP’s Village Savings & Lending projects have improved the household security and helped over 35,000 families rise out of poverty in Zimbabwe. We have documented this using both methods. Tracking each savings club’s fund growth and increases in household assets doesn’t tell the whole story. Through “Most Significant Change” stories, we also look at those individuals whose lives were transformed in unexpected and often amazing ways.

To join a discussion about program evaluation click here.

The Zimbabwe Situation

With the upcoming presidential election next year, Zimbabwe is once again a country in crisis. For an extensive and up-to-date website containing news, views and links related to ZIMBABWE Click here.

ASAP has continued to assist families in Zimbabwe since 1994, through drought, economic collapse, cyclone and political turmoil. With your continued interest and support, we know that together we will continue to change lives by empowering women and improving education during the challenges ahead.

ASAP Africa Summer Newsletter

Click here to read ASAP's summer newsletter.

I came across this article in my Google Alert this morning - a rare but not unprecedented move towards the indigenization of resources that reminds me of many of the issues I experienced while traveling in Mongolia.

JR

Greetings contributors, readers, and all of those involved with ASAP Africa!

My name is Jimmy and I will be interning here for the next couple of years as part of my work for the Emory University MDP program, so I would like to take this opportunity to come out of the shadows and say hi.

Hi!

Although I don't know much about Zimbabwe, I am very eager to learn and excited to be a part of all the wonderful work being done by ASAP. Look to the blog regularly for updates about our programs and events as well as news from the field.

Until next time, here is a link to an interesting story from Guardian.co.uk about how two wheels changed a woman's life in Harare.

Enjoy!

Jimmy

ASAP Welcomes James Ramsey

Welcome to James Ramsey, who will be working with ASAP through the Master's in Development Practice (MDP) Program at Emory University. The MDP program combines hands-on learning and field experience with rigorous training in a broad range of academic disciplines with a goal of achieving sustainable development in the face of global poverty, political and ethnic conflict, a degrading natural resource base, and irreversible climate change. To read more about this program at Emory click here.

James Ramsey graduated from the University of Oklahoma where he studied International and Area studies with a concentration in East Asian Studies and Japanese language. After graduation, he first taught English in Akita, Japan through the JET program and then at the University of Oklahoma's CESL. James is currently an ESL teacher for Lutheran Services of Georgia, an organization offering resettlement services to refugees in the Atlanta area. He became interested in development during his time in Japan, where he did volunteer work for Room To Read - a non-profit that raises money to construct schools and provide scholarships for girls throughout Asia and the Indian subcontinent. While at Emory, James will be interning with ASAP Africa. His research interests include human rights, natural resource management, and education.

Heroes Day Celebration

Today, August 8th is Heroes Day in Zimbabwe. This holiday, similar to Veteran's Day here in the US, is the day celebrated to honor the heroes of the nation who have sacrificed their life or have done something great for the nation. To read more about the history of this holiday click here.

You can be an ASAP Hero! Click here to learn more.

Grant Announcement for Education in Zimbabwe

ASAP is proud to announce a new three year grant from the Flora Family Foundation to support the Improving Math Education in Primary School (IMEPS) project in Zimbabwe. Sixty one schools are involved in this project to improve math skills in the eastern district of Manicaland. To read more about this project click here.

The conditions in Zimbabwean schools are particularly challenging today, as teachers salaries are very low and wage negotiations have not produced the desired results. Following the latest increases, teachers now earn US$320, up from US$160 per month. During the last decade of economic collapse, communities have been paying teachers incentives to keep them motivated. The recent move by the Ministry of Education to stop these incentives have also had a negative impact. To read more click here.

Recently the Minister of Education in Zimbabwe, David Coltart, has stated that the West is partly to blame for the economic decline in Zimbabwe over the past decade. To read more click here.

Teaching in Zimbabwe is a Struggle to Survive

There are 15,000 vacant teaching posts in Zimbabwe. Despite reports that thousands of Zimbabwean teachers, who had left the country at the height of the economic crisis are returning, this number appears to be increasing. To read more click here.
Poor salaries contribute to the problem and recent wage negotiations have not produced results. Teachers report that feeding a family on their currently salary of about $200/month is impossible. To read more, Click here.

It is under these conditions that ASAP Africa in Zimbabwe continues to work with dedicated, selfless teachers to improve the teaching and learning of math in Primary School. To learn more about this project click here.