Livestock for 300 Orphan Families in Zimbabwe

What an amazing year it has been for AFCA's children, thanks to YOU! Because of YOU, thousands of children are thriving and hopeful. Because of YOU, hundreds of children had good food to eat this year. Because of YOU, hundreds of children have livestock and seeds with which to start small businesses. We don't have enough words to thank you for what you've done because it is huge...it is life changing.

Let me introduce you to 22 year-old Moyo. He is one of the gardening beneficiaries, and is the head of his family. During a recent support visit, he already had a thriving cabbage vegetable plantation which he was harvesting a bit by bit for his young siblings for relish. The secret behind the young man’s success is simply following the basic gardening skills AFCA has taught him during our workshops. For instance, the young man transplanted his cabbage simultaneously with the other beneficiaries and he is already harvesting. These days the sun is so hot in this country, and Moyo's most reliable weapon is mulch. He does not need to water every day as the mulching will preserve the much needed moisture.

As we begin a new year, we want to thank you for the donations you've made to support our work. If you are making your giving decisions, please keep us in mind so we can continue helping children in 2016 and beyond. Please share what we do with others, so they, too, can help our children. Together, we CAN make a difference.

We wish you the best year ever, full of every blessing and happiness imaginable, knowing you are a hope-giver. If you would like to learn more about AFCA and our programs, please contact Tanya Weaver at tweaver@AFCAids.org.

We love to share our success stories of transformation with the donors who make it all possible.  Last month we received this beautiful photo and words of appreciation.

Mrs. Ndlovu is a widow who had 10 biological children consisting of 5 boys and 5 girls who all died. In her words, her children died because of "umkhuhlane lo bantwabami" a local reference to HIV &AIDS. She buried her last child in 2010. Because of the trauma associated with the loss of all her children, she decided to relocate from one village to another within her area.

Mrs. Ndlovu had no assets (cattle or goats) but was taking care of 4 orphans. In 2012, she was identified as one of the beneficiaries for our livelihood project. She was then trained in small livestock management and was given 3 female goats.  She currently has 21 goats and she has passed on 3 goats to another needy family, per our agreement. The goats provide a source of milk and protein for the orphans while she uses goat manure for her nutritional garden. The livestock has boosted her self-worth within the community and she is able to sustain herself in an area affected by recurrent droughts.

Mrs. Ndlovu says that because she has her own livestock she is now "financially stable" as she knows that she can sell one goat and manage to get food supplies for two to three months. The local price of one goat is $85 and this is sufficient to pay school fees for three of her grandchildren for one school term.

When we visited her home, one of her female goats had given birth to triplets a day before the visit. In the photo, she holds the new members of the family with great pride and emotion. She says, “I do not know how to thank these people who have shown me such love. I truly believe angels are there and I thank God for his angels who have transformed our lives for the better.”

Do you ever ask yourself if you are actually making a difference?  Perhaps you feel so small in this great big world?  Do you wonder if the donation you made ever touches the life of a child affected by HIV/AIDS?

Take a moment to look at the attached photos and really enjoy the smiles on the faces of the families YOU have directly touched.  You donation made it possible for the American Foundation for Children with AIDS to distribute goats to families in Metopos, Zimbabwe.  Families where widows and grandmothers are raising children affected by HIV/AIDS.

What did you do today?  Today you can be sure that you DID made a difference in the life of a child.  Many children!  Now they can dream because they have goats.  Life has so many more possibilities now!  Thank you for making a difference.

Are you interested in hearing more about our livestock projects or other projects by the American Foundation for Children with AIDS?  Go to www.afcaids.org or contact Tanya Weaver at tweaver@afcaids.org for more information. 

Dear Friends,

Today is a matching day at Global Giving, meaning that every dollar will be matched by 50%, growing your donations immediately.  Right now, if we come in one of the first 5 organizations with the most unique donors, we will also receive a bonus!  So...it is all good.

If you can, would you consider donating even $10 to this project today? Donations must be made by 11:59pm EST.  Please tell your friends about this great project - you supported it in the past and have received reports of how well the kids are doing, thanks to YOU.  Kids like Mary, who just regifted three goats to another family, fulfilling the requirement of giving to another once she had enough goats in her flock.  Now, she stays in school, she eats well, her garden flourishes, and she has hope.  Yes, because of you.

Will you help us one more time?  Again, as little as $10 goes a long, long way.

Thank you for sharing on social media and email!

tanya

Thembeni is a forty-five year old sickly widow who is looking after three children.  They live in the Mahwanke Village in the Gwanda District.  Their lives have been changed because of your generosity. 

Thembeni tells us ... "I am thankful to the people who donated porridge because my family has been struggling to get nutritional rich food.  The porridge is going to be of great help for the children who are going to school.  They can go after having a very strong breakfast of corn soya blend."

The family was also part of the families who received rabbits in 2012 and she is very happy with the performance of the rabbit project at her home.  Thembeni continues her story ... “The rabbit project at our home, where we were given two female rabbits has been a vehicle for a breakthrough iIn our lives. The number of the rabbits this year has gone up to eighteen.  We have given back two rabbits and have sold seven and I managed to buy uniforms for my children and pay school fees. We have slaughtered three as relish and the meat is tasty and tender."  The family presently has three rabbits and two of them are pregnant!

We share these first hand stories so you know exactly what the American Foundation for Children with AIDS is able to do with the funds you have donated.  Lives are being changed every day!

Are you up for a challenge?  From April 27 through May 1, thousands of people across the world are coming together to unite against extreme poverty.  Will YOU be one of them?  Go to www.afcaids.org/live to learn more and to sign up.

Please contact Tanya Weaver at tweaver@afcaids.org if you would like to learn more about our program or find out how you can make a difference TODAY.