Empower 100 women in Zimbabwe with Sewing Skills!

The idea cropped up not long ago that the team at BSG could very much do with additional training since their full time mentor left the village. So, here is a short note from Margret updating on the recent attendee of the the 2 week training programs for 4 of the BSG team....also its was very touching that their thoughts are with our victims of the floods here in Australia. 

This is the letter from Margaret. 

We hope and pray that all people who were affected will get help. It is very disturbing to see people loosing what you have worked for because of floods. BSG is still staggering but we are trying. The girls enjoyed their course they will get certificates  I think in august. They have to go again in April. They are all fine with lots of confidence and motivation. Lots of love from the group. Margret

On another note, Margaret did announce that she is marrying her 'husband' Crispin in June. This is a significant step as although they have already declared that they are husband and wife and do have 2 children, weddings are reserved for when and only when the couple can afford it....hence some couples never officially get married. So it was thrilling to find out that Crispin & Margaret will marry in June this year. CONGRATULATIONS from all of us at AFADU. Margaret is such an integral part in moving BSG forward not to mention her key role as the supervisor (and super-woman!) of Lirhanzo Childrens Village in general. 

An exciting note from AFADU....we have resurrected our newsletter ' Come Alive'. So please enjoy our re-launch Summer Issue. 

Many thanks for your support.

Trish

ww.afadu.com 

Links:

• For more information, go to our website.

• COME ALIVE - AFADU Newsletter (PDF)
  

The ladies of BSG, led by Margaret Mutero, have been powering along lately with the help of Julie Routledge, the founder of AFADU. She spent some quality time with the ladies back in June this year during the annual AFADU filed trip....proving yet again how valuable those tips are, she sat with the team at BSG and came up with some strategies to increase the businesses productivity and hence profit. As I reported last time, one idea was to hold a $2 sale to attract new customers an turn over a high volume of sales. It was a raging success and earnt the business well over $700USD in one day....which is more than they were making in a month at some times! What Julie also found was that since the departure of the teams mentor and tutor, Mrs Chamuka, productivity had dropped off due to the essential lack of inspiration and guidance that comes with someone that can be on hand to enhance and teach new skills. So, one fine day back in June, Margaret and Julie headed up to Masvingo...a lazy few hours drive away!....to do some investigation and finally find a solution to their current challenge. That came in the form of 2 week intensive training programs at the Masvingo Technical College where in December Joyce will learn the techniques of fabric dying, Tsungirirai will study the basics of computing and Clorence and Loveness will build on their dressmaking skills.The team are really excited about these up and coming programs and what they will do for their business and the future of BSG. Thanks again to the supporters BSG through Global Giving who can make this happen for them. On a sadder note, on behalf of myself and AFADU, I would like to extend our sincerest condolences to Clorence who in August gave birth to a baby boy but unfortunately passed away soon after. Our thoughts are with her. I also want to wish the team well as they head into the Christmas season. 

Thanks again for you support.

Trish

www.afadu.com

P.s. I have included a photo of Margaret (top middle), Julie (2nd from the right) and team holding up coffee bags that are donate by Toby's Estate Coffee in Sydney. BSG turn these bags in to floor mats and sell them in their store. Yet another example of their handy work!  So clever! 

Once a year in June a group from AFADU head to Zimbabwe for the annual field trip – which is wonderful because we can see firsthand how the girls at BSG are coming along. All reports say that times have been tough especially since their in house tutor, Mrs Chamuka, moved on to another town some months back. So a visit from the AFADU bunch was most welcomed. Julie, the founder of AFADU and woman of boundless energy, spent some quality time with the BSG crew and together they mapped out the next steps in BSG’s progress. One fantastic idea they came up with to generate income and clear some of the older stock was to have 30 June sale. Incredibly they had a HUGE day and made more money in the one day they do in a month! Following is an excerpt from a letter sent to us by the ever inspirational Margaret Mutero.

“Just to let you know, we had a $2 sale on the 30th of June as per our arrangement. The sale was really fantastic and we made a quiet a big difference. The sales for that day alone were $724, 50. From this cash, we paid our rentals for July to September, Vendors’ license up to September. We also have put money aside to by two new machines.”

Margaret is not only the supervisor of the orphans at Lihranzo Children’s Village she is also responsible for getting BSG off the ground with me back in 2005. I actually haven’t been back to Zimbabwe since that time so Margaret and I keep our bond strong through good old fashion snail mail. So, you can imagine my surprise though when at 6am last Saturday the phone rings. It was Margaret. She was on a day trip to Chridezi which is 3 hours drive from Chikombedzi. She tells me she had saved some money so she could make the call. To say I was blown away is an understatement really! We had a very quick chat and although there is so much to catch up on it was like being a rabbit in the head lights. I could barely think! One thing she did make very clear was how grateful she and her crew at BSG are for the love and support AFADU gives.

So, Thank you from Margaret!

Trish www.afau.com