Help Us Provide Access to Clean Water in Zimbabwe

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Since our last update we have been back on the ground in rural Zimbabwe, visiting the schools that your generosity keeps running, and we came home with a lot on our minds.

Here is something that has stayed with us. Every morning, before lessons begin, two children from each class are sent to the borehole. They carry five litre buckets and they pump, by hand, for around forty minutes, just to get enough water for the day. The water is safe, we have confirmed that. But the image of children doing that work, missing class to do it, when they should be sitting at a desk learning, is one we cannot shake. And it is the clearest possible picture of what this project is really about.

The schools we support feed nine thousand children every single day. That takes water, a lot of it, and right now that water comes through iron pumps and small hands and a lot of time that belongs in a classroom. We want to change that, and we have a clear plan for how.

Solar powered pumps replace the manual boreholes and give schools running water around the clock. Aquaponics systems, which use ninety percent less water than traditional growing methods, bring fresh greens and fish protein into meals that currently rely on dry nutrient packs. Poultry projects complete the picture, giving schools a source of consistent protein and eventually a surplus they can manage themselves. Together these three steps take a school from being entirely dependent on outside support to being very nearly self sufficient, and the cost to get a single school there is $4,900.

With thirty rural schools on our list we know this is a long road. But we are on it, and things are moving. There is real energy behind this project right now, with the team out in the community, knocking on doors, dreaming up events and finding new ways to bring people in. We are not sitting still and it feels good.

We are also really excited to be part of the GlobalGiving Bonus Day starting on the 15th of July. Over twenty four hours, every new donation of $100 or above will receive a proportionate share of a matching fund. If you are in a position to give again we would be so grateful, and if not, sharing our project with friends, family or colleagues during that window costs nothing and could make a real difference. In numbers we go further, always.

Thank you for being part of this. Nine thousand children ate today because of you. That is not a small thing.

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We recently returned from visiting our schools in rural Zimbabwe, and we have a story to share that highlights both the incredible resilience of these communities and the massive opportunity we have to change their future.

The "Gym Class" Nobody Asked For

Thirty years ago, humanitarian efforts installed manual boreholes across rural Zimbabwe. While these have been a lifeline, the reality today is grueling. To prepare the nutrient-rich meals that your donations provide to 9,000 children every single day, we need water.

Currently, two children from every class are sent to the borehole with 5-liter buckets. They pump non-stop for about 40 minutes just to get enough water for the day’s needs. It’s a workout they shouldn't have to do. The good news? Our recent tests confirmed the water is safe even though it is brown. The bad news? It’s currently trapped behind manual labor and heavy iron pumps and children are being pulled out of their class to get 5 Litres of water. takes. around 40 minutes.

The Vision: A Sustainable School

We have a "Big Hairy Audacious Goal." We don't just want to feed these children; we want the schools to be able to feed themselves. By combining solar power, aquaponics, and poultry, we can reduce a school's monthly food bill by 97% and give them access to running water.

Here is our 3-Step Roadmap to Independence:

• Step 1: Solar Power & Connectivity ($2,000 per school) We are replacing manual pumps with solar-powered systems. This provides constant running water to the school, ending the "bucket brigade" and freeing children to be in the classroom, not at the pump.

• Step 2: Aquaponics Installation ($2,900 per school) Building on our last report, these systems use 90% less water than traditional gardens. They provide fresh, high-protein greens and fish to supplement the dry nutrient packs we currently serve.

• Step 3: Poultry Projects The final piece of the puzzle to provide consistent protein and a surplus that schools can manage themselves.

Why This Matters Right Now

We are currently managing a massive monthly food bill to ensure no child goes hungry and we have so heavily relying on large amounts of water. It is vital work, but it is a recurring cost. By investing in these three steps, we aren't just buying a meal; we are buying a permanent solution.

$4,900 (Steps 1 and 2) transforms a school of 400 children from being 100% dependent on aid to being almost entirely self-sufficient.

Let’s Start Today

This is a big job, and with 30 rural schools on our list, we know it won't happen overnight. But we are starting now. Whether it’s $10 or $1,000, every cent goes toward that first solar panel or the first aquaporic tank.

Thank you for being the reason 9,000 children eat today, and the reason they will be sustainable tomorrow.

With hope and determination. nd thank you to everyone that has already donate to our water program! We're maing real impact