Food Security Zimbabwe Project #16275

Help Feed Hungry Children in Zimbabwe

by Action Change (Formerly GVI Trust)

Project Report | Aug 17, 2016
Some Good News

By Bookey Peek | Liaison Officer

Dear Supporters,

For a change, I do have some good news! Thanks to the incredibly generous help from our donors, we will be able to feed our day scholars for the next term (three months from September to December).

Actually, that is about the only good news to come out Zimbabwe right now. Things are so chaotic and unpredictable on every front that I sometimes wonder if, coming as we do at the end of the alphabet, we might someday just drop off the planet altogether.

As a result of our not being able to control our own currency, we adopted the US$ around eight years ago. For a while all went well and the shops once again had food, though much of it was unavailable to the majority of our mostly unemployed populace. However, the temptation proved too much for our leaders who have managed to relieve the country of nearly all of its cash – to the point that banks have limited withdrawals to $100 per person per day, for those who have the time and the ability to stand in line for hours. Even then, this option is available only to those who live in the cities – not to rural people who have no access to banks. It is possible to move theoretical money around using mobile phones, but of course, many people do not have one, and although some rural outlets may accept that form of payment, they also demand a substantial purchase of goods before they will release even a minimal amount of cash (if indeed they have it).

The only people who are in a position to survive this situation, are those with foreign currency credit or debit cards, which are fortunately accepted by most outlets (with alacrity!)

Add the monetary disaster to the failure of the crops after last season’s drought, and you have a desperate and very hungry populace, who can see no end to their troubles.

Nothing is closer to Zimbabweans’ hearts than the education of their children, and they will sacrifice almost everything else to find school fees which, at $25 a term, are almost unaffordable for most of them. This is where the daily meal is so essential for their children, who not only have very little to eat at home but have to walk long distances to school and back every day.

So, that’s the update, and once again, very many thanks to all those who have given so generously so that these children can eat. What is more important than that?

With Gratitude,

The GVI Trust

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Jun 4, 2016
Zimbabwe Doesn't Begin With the Last Letter of the Alphabet for Nothing.

By Bookey Peek | Project Co-ordinator

Dear Supporters,

Zimbabwe doesn’t begin with the last letter of the alphabet for nothing. We feature last on the list of countries of the world and if we carry on as we are, we’ll probably drop off it altogether.

But, please, that’s no reason to forget us.

It is not the fault of the people of this country that we are in this mess, it is entirely due to the total neglect by the government for the past thirty-six years. Thanks to a ruinous agricultural policy, we haven’t been able to feed ourselves for decades but we have muddled through by importing from our neighbours. But this year is different and this winter will be far, far worse. The last “rainy” season barely happened, with minor falls in February and March - too little and too late for the maize crop (the staple diet in this part of Africa) that should be planted in November/December.

The drought has affected the whole of southern Africa so there will be almost no imports this year – and what does come in will, as usual, be handed out to the party faithful in Mashonaland. People here, in Matabeleland (the most arid area of the country at the best of times), have no maize stored away and it won’t be long before they are facing starvation – with no help in sight from their government.

Thanks to the very generous donations we have received so far this year, we are still managing to feed over 270 day scholars at Marula Junior School – every lunchtime for five days a week during term time. Up to now, we have been able to provide them with mealie meal (porridge made from maize) which is still available – at a price – plus beans, soy chunks, cabbage, tomatoes and a soup. I was at the school two days ago and attach photographs of some of the very happy recipients. For most of these children, this is the only proper, balanced meal they will have in the day – and many of them have to walk miles to school and back on an empty stomach.

That’s the thing about this country, and you can see it from the photographs: no matter how tough things are, the people remain amazingly cheerful and friendly. But right now they are being pushed to their limits – and this year there will be no relief to their suffering.

We are so grateful for the help that you have given us in the past. If you can spare a little more, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you will be saving lives. Many of these children are HIV positive or actually have AIDS – so once their immune system is compromised through hunger – they are in danger of succumbing to the disease.

Many thanks from the children at Marula Junior School for your kindness.

With Gratitude,

Bookey

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Mar 14, 2016
State of Disaster Declared in Rural Zimbabwe

By Bookey Peek | Project Co-ordinaitor

Dear Supporter,

“More than quarter of the population face food shortages as Zimbabwe hit by severe drought, with cattle dying and crops destroyed” The Guardian, 5 February 2016)

First, a very big thank you to all the generous donors who have supported our feeding programme at Marula Junior School over the months since the project has been active.

The past few years have been difficult, but nothing compares to what we are facing now. In February, the President declared a state of disaster in rural areas. Our district is one of the worst affected.

As there are no employment opportunities, the people here rely on growing their own crops, which are generally meagre as we receive little rainfall. Our yearly average is 17 inches – this year we have had barely 6 inches, and it is already the end of the “rainy” season. So there will be no maize this year and very little hope any imported food reaching outlying areas.

Of our 270 plus day scholars, many are AIDS orphans, living with relatives or with only slightly older siblings, all of whom are unemployed. The only way we can feed them is to keep raising funds to buy them mealie meal, plus “relish” consisting of soy chunks, tomato, cabbage and a soup mix. This enables us to give these children, most of them in the 5 – 10 age group, lunch every day during the term time.

Water is, of course, another huge problem. This has been somewhat alleviated, though, by our being able to have the bush pump at the school well fixed recently thanks to overseas donors. This water is not suitable for drinking or cooking but it can be used for everything else – and the children are kept busy pumping and carrying the water back to the school building in buckets.

Our next project is to buy a storage tank, but first priority is food, food, food – enough to tide the children over until next year when we hope and pray that the rains will come.

With Gratitude,

GVI Charitable Trust

Thanks for the lunch!

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