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From the preschool to the Mhandara Monthly Care (MMC) and the well-building program, Ancient Ways is working to improve opportunities while safeguarding the traditions for rural children and their families, with a focus on the girl child.  Here, during a Friday afternoon MMC lesson, the girls are playing a traditional favorite, Nhemamusasa.  “Nhemamusasa,” (Shona for “cutting trees for a temporary shelter”) is one of the ancient songs in the mbira repertoire of the Shona people. (We also play this on marimba!) Msasa is the name of a tree, and hunters going out for more than one day at a time would cut the branches of the tree to make a shelter. During the war for independence, soldiers/freedom fighters would hide in the bush using the msasa tree branches to stay hidden and make a home for a time.

Many thanks to you for your continued commitments to our efforts.  We are able to extend our reach, touching into the lives of many families who need assistance with building a well, educating their children and providing the basics for the maturing girls.  Nhimbe for Progress takes a very unique approach, which allows us to influence the children and their futures in significant ways.

YOU MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

As always, your continued support means everything. The child’s life is the path. Everyone deserves the basics!

CONTRIBUTING

To find the ways you can contribute to our programs, which are providing services both here and in Zimbabwe, check out the SHOP. Both your donations to our programs and services, as well as your purchases of special Zimbabwean gifts found HERE in the Marketplace, support the work being done!

HERE is 2025’s Annual Letter from the Executive Director. Our Ancient Ways Board President’s letter is HERE, and the 2026’s printable donation form is HERE. You can mail us at PO Box 346, Scio, OR 97374, or call the office to donate over the phone at 877-TATENDA or 541-259-HOPE anytime (feel free to leave a message). Texting only is also an option, particularly for Signal Private Messenger (preferred) or Whatsapp users at 541-570-9059. Thank you!

HOW TO MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT?

  1. Online, by clicking here, or through the office at the number above, a recurring credit card donation can be set up for monthly, quarterly or annual payments. An equal option is a bank draft that you set up for a recurring check in your bill pay. Either of these approaches lightens our task immensely because the committed funds help make budgeting and planning much easier. Recurring donations help stabilize all of our efforts. Our team counts on you!
  2. If you live in Oregon, check out Bottle Drop. It is a great way to support Ancient Ways. Set up your account and, as you like, you can direct your bottle return deposit to Ancient Ways. Nothing like the small change under the sofa cushions having a big impact!
  3. Check with your employer to see if they have a matching funds program, which can double your donation, or if they give based upon your community volunteer hours! This is a superb way to increase your action. We are members of Benevity, which works with many corporations to assist the non-profit sector – Check it out!
  4. If you are 73 ½ and have an eligible IRA, you can donate your required minimum distribution (RMD) to Ancient Ways. This makes an impact!
  5. Become a member of Ancient Ways! (here under the Sustainability section)
  6. Volunteer! We are a grass-roots volunteer-based organization that has many specialized needs. Your natural talents can help us meet goals! Simple administrative skills can be an incredible donation. Do you know Word, Excel, how to upload pictures, etc.? . . . give us a call!
  7. If you are 70 1/2, you can make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD), which: a) is not counted as taxable income, b) helps lower your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), c) can prevent you from moving into a higher tax bracket, and d) may also reduce Medicare premiums.  A QCD  goes directly from an IRA to a charity like Ancient Ways, and  you do not have to itemize to get the tax benefits. 
  8. For investments that have grown in value over time, you can donate them and not owe taxes.  For example, if you bought stock for $300 that now trades for $3,000, and you sell it now, you would owe taxes on $2,700 in capital gains. But, making a charitable contribution would change that.  Talk to your accountant about “gifts of appreciated stock,” and make a difference with us!
  9. If you would like to assist Ancient Ways in our work in Zimbabwe and are interested in learning more about bequeathing (financial or otherwise), this website explains the many types of charitable donations to consider in your estate planning.   You have the power to greatly influence the future.  Thank you.
  10. Share us with your friends in whatever way you can . . . help us tell the story!

JOIN US in 2026 as WE CONTINUE to EVOLVE

32 years of ANCIENT WAYS as the non-profit organization, established November 30th, 1994, and
27 years of NHIMBE for PROGRESS, established November 25th, 1999!

(Check out Nhimbe achievements HERE as of 2018)

WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE FOUNDATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUCCEED

Thank you for whatever you can do!

Tatenda Chaizvo! (We thank you very much!)