We are always grateful for your support in our cooperative endeavors! At year end, as we organize for the following 12 month’s efforts, your contribution not only gets you a fully taxable donation, but also helps us with our planning.
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Its during this time we work with our partners in Mhondoro and sketch out what they want, and what you are telling us we can do. We all very much appreciate knowing that we have your ongoing assistance in whatever way makes sense to you. Time, money, prayers, telling our story, imagination, collaboration…it all helps! Thank you to those who have remembered us this year...and thank you in advance for helping us pave the way forward with more than just intention!
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Here is a quick recap of what we continue to focus upon:
This is one of my favorite videos of 2020 ... what a blessing this windmill has been! The sound of the pump is like a lullaby to my ears. I know, sounds odd, right?. But imagine camping in the desert for years and coming upon water gushing forth from the earth and the sound of this little gadget, singing away, as the anthem. It is only because its a bore hole (rather than a well) that we have water during this multiple year drought. Looking forward to buying drip-line to finish off the newly prepared beds, putting this fountain to work!
Because of the borehole and windmill, they were able to expand the little garden. The guards took it up as their pet project when everything starting going sideways earlier in the year. And, they are being steadfast during their off time (each with 10 days off, 10 days on) to keep it developing.
This ambuya (grandmother) is Eflida, and the eldest of Cosmas’ siblings. In her 70’s, her profound appreciation for walking up to a faucet is immense. In most places in the townships, faucets are in every home, but usually outside on a sink next to the toilet room. To have a faucet in the rural area is an amazing thing. Efilda began with Nhimbe in 2000 and continues in her original role, in charge of the comings and goings of all inventory.
We completed the deepenings for 74 families last year and will continue on into 2021. This family above, who just got a new well sponsored in 2019, had plenty of water to begin, but the drought continued to take its toll, and although a recent well, even they too need to deepen! It has become dire. Thank you for your help with this recognition that water is life!
This is my absolute favorite photo of all year. It warms the cockles of my heart. I love that they are working as part of our larger team, helping a family get water by deepening a well. There is something quite touching about them working together for progress, in this way as a couple. Granted, at the end of a long day, she most likely puts in another couple of hours handling the mealtime, etc, but then again, maybe they can afford to buy firewood instead of her gathering it, hire a maid to help at the home, and/or pay for someone to help weed the field? In any case, who knows the whole story...I just love this photo!
We continue to engage our preschoolers with early childhood education as well as feed them with the same dedication that we began with in 2002. Success comes in small packages. Thank you for your part of this!
We have 3 teachers outside of Nhimbe who trained with us for several of our Teen Care camps and had started their own Mhandara Monthly Care groups for their maturing girls, over the last couple of years. They attended our distribution event in November where 45 girls received supplies. We will continue to support these other teacher's efforts with start-up kits and education this coming year. This is an incredible program! Check out what $18 can buy! Plus the Nhimbe girls are playing marimba, thanks to you!
Covid Intervention was an unexpected part of Nhimbe’s evolution in 2020. If you haven’t looked at what was accomplished, or the why/how of it, take a peek. Febbie Shava, the new co-director, is sharing the mask making. She has been a large, but sometimes hidden, team player for soooo very long and now gets to step up and be even a bigger part of our successes.
These are the key people that are taking Nhimbe to new levels of achievement as we move into 2021: the well building supervisor, guards, cooks, cleaner, inventory, teachers, librarian, marimba teacher, and our new co-directors. No picture here of the man behind the curtain (in Harare instead of Oz), our 80-something-but-whose-counting accountant, who holds all the pieces together.
We all extend you profound gratitude as we end 2020 with prayers for 2021 unfolding in grace and guidance, affording all the best that progress can offer. May the new year bring you only joy and peace!
Tatenda Chaizvo! (We thank you very much!)