School Enrollment Updates for 2011

by AllProject UpdatesYouth Well Being

Upper Grades – We now have a qualified Law practitioner and two female Bachelor of Arts graduates coming out of the village children who have gone through our sponsorship programs.  We currently have two University graduates returning for further advanced level education.

Secondary Exam Fees – We also managed to pay examination fees for a total of 24 Form 4 students in both projects.  In Zimbabwe the student’s family is required to pay a fee so they can take the exam required for graduation from grade 7 but most critically from Form 4 Secondary School.

Primary and Secondary – School begins in January and ends in December in Zimbabwe. This year we have sponsored close to 80 students within our Jangano project in Dewedzo, Rusape, and a total of near 390 Nhimbe for Progress kids in Mhondoro. We struggled to keep our older Jangano students enrolled as the school districts raised their fees to be outside of our budget – many had to leave our program.

Preschoolers – Additionally we had a total of 83 children enrolled in the Nhimbe Preschool, which includes 44 boys and 39 girls. The preschooler’s attendance has been very satisfactory overall and above the usual even though there was some cold winter weather in June through August.

Donhodzo Health Update

by AllHealthProject Updates

Our Senior Nurse reports that, “The Donhodzo staff would like to give thanks for the continued provision of the most vital medicines that have made a huge impact and quality difference in the wellbeing of our community and beyond.  Together with our health promotional approach, we are witnessing a major decline in health concerns within our communities. The importance of water, sanitation and hygiene is beginning to make a difference in the lives of many, as few are seeking major health services and primarily coming for first aid.

The main challenge has been bilharzias, which has affected a lot of school-going kids up to secondary level. The problem has been compounded by the fact that our Donhodzo center has been the only place with Praziquental tablets that can cure the disease thus putting a strain on our supply.”

Preschool Health Update from Nhimbe

by AllHealthProject UpdatesYouth Well Being

Our Senior Nurse reports “We had an exceptional term in which our preschool kids were generally healthy with no reported disease outbreak, but only a few bouts of flu and cough from the harsh winter cold winds. The supply of food has been timely, constant and balanced. We also would like to commend the community residents for they have been quick to respond to all firewood issues. We have been closely monitoring our preschool kids and we are pleased that we are recording few cases of diarrhea and skin diseases, which in the past have been major issues.

National Aids Council Partnering with Nhimbe

by AllHealthProject Updates

After many years of waiting and negotiations, the National AIDS Council through their sister program, the New Start Center (part of PSI International), committed to partner with Nhimbe for Progress by offering mobile HIV testing and counseling services. As a first, they offered free CD4 count tests for those people living with HIV/AIDS as a tool to assess the progression of the diseases and responsiveness to anti-retro-viral therapy as well as to give advice on ways to improve the livelihood of people living with HIV/AIDS. Our Senior Nurse says, “What a great milestone in our endeavor to reach out to our community!”

Maize Micro-loans and Preschool Food

by AllProject UpdatesYouth Well Being

Now is the time to plant one’s maize field as the rains are coming in Zimbabwe!  We have spent approximately $840 to purchase certified seed for 27 families so that they can plant their field knowing that the quality will ensure a successful crop of 1-2 tons (depending upon whether they borrowed for 10 or 20kg of seed), assuming the weather is reasonable.  This will be considered a loan without interest. They will repay the loan by giving the financial equivalent of maize to the preschool in 2012.  We feed the preschoolers daily and the maize will supplement the other foods we grow and buy.  This is a win-win situation!

Update on the Preschool Water Pump

by AllProject UpdatesYouth Well Being

Our Senior Nurse says, “The installation of a water pump at the Community Center has not only simplified our access to water but has also assured us the safest drinking water for our many children and the community at large. The pump has the capacity to draw out enough water to fill 3000 liters of water within an hour.” Many thanks to the collaboration of the Ministry of Health, Child Welfare and UNICEF for transforming our well!

UNICEF is Providing Nhimbe Well Pump

by AllProject UpdatesYouth Well Being

UNICEF has chosen the Nhimbe for Progress preschool as one of its first sites to install a well pump in the rural Mhondoro area. The reason given was our great track record and stability! This well pump will increase the gallons per minute phenomenally compared to manually bringing a bucket out at a time. This is still a manual operation but empowers those gardening, cooking and cleaning to achieve must easier results. We are very grateful for this recognition from UNICEF as well as for the practical nature of this gift!