Hardship Aid Loans
Sometimes we ask for donations specifically for villagers or staff because we hear about their plight. This has made it possible for people’s lives to return to normal quite a bit sooner after a crisis. For example:
- When our Educational Manager developed cancer requiring treatment in Harare, we assisted his family with many medical bills. When he passed on, his surviving widow and 5 children were not left with these bills and she was able to begin a life focused on raising the children, thanks to many people here who donated on their behalf.
- One of the carver’s in the Muriritirwa village had a child needing surgery but the parents could not afford to take him to the hospital. A donor came through for this family and provided the $50. It’s hard to imagine that such a small amount of funding can go such a long way. The child is doing well!
- One of the health staff was having problems with her heel, making it difficult to walk. She went to the hospital and was initially diagnosed with an abnormal growth on the heel. The Dr. suggested she needed an x-ray done to ascertain the extent of the condition. She was given medical assistance of $50 which includes $35 X-ray and $15 consultation fee. At that point, she made $50 per month as a stipend for volunteering, and so the cost was prohibitive.
- A staff assistant was obligated to pay her late mother’s hospital bills, as she was one of the two remaining adults in the family. Her sister had already contributed to a majority of the bill. Without paying this bill, the hospital would not provide her or her child with any medical care if the need arose. She owed over $500 and had paid a minimal amount each month to show good faith, but was doing so on a salary that was not enough to live on to begin with. We asked for any donation possible to help go towards her loan reduction, and our donors came through.