On Dec 8, 2010, I set off for my long trip home to Zimbabwe. My day had started off on the wrong foot on so many levels, but the privilege to be on an itinerary whose final destination read HRE was inspiring enough to make up for the rest. I was at EWR in no time, all checked in and just grateful for my friend Vimz who had taken the role of ‘big sister’ on a morning where I had also needed courage more than just the ride to the airport. There’s something about gratitude that brings one back to realizing just how much more there is to be thankful for. There’s something sacred about being in that moment where I noticed my breath - the rising and falling of my lungs under my chest. Somehow in that moment, I felt connected to my source. I felt protected. I felt lucky to be alive, to be on this journey. I couldn’t help but to smile….
Delta boarded us on the connection flight to ATL, and I settled in my window seat with my new book, The Blue Sweater. It’s Jacqueline Novogratz’s story about her experiences on the quest to help others, and hopefully change the world in the process. The narrative begins with her account of an old blue sweater that she had owned as a little girl and many years later, the encounter (more like a spiritual occurrence) with a little African boy in Kigali, Rwanda, who happened to be wearing that very same sweater. “The Hidden Connections”, I thought, as I read on; my brain chasing through the memoir and saving in memory everything to better equip me for this trip. The connection flight to JNB was over 16hours and though I sat next to a good neighbor who kept me company from time to time, it was impossible to escape the time. I went over my notes of what I’d want this visit to be about: deliver hope to mama so she can better weather the challenges at home, work out a model to help reduce input costs of running our family farm, carry out the survey to gauge the microfinance needs in the community, meet up with executives at the UN/UNDP, Worldlinks & Acumen-Africa; visit the schools and analyze the ever moving target of challenges in Macheke so as to re-prioritize initiatives if necessary. Well, and don’t forget to eat mazhanje, laugh often and love being home! My brothers William and Rob met me at the airport and as if I was just there yesterday, I switched into my mode of being a little sister and one who’s so excited about the Christmas holidays. It must have been after midnight when we got to our home in Macheke and my sister Chipo had stayed up to meet me. ZESA (electricity supply) was surprisingly available, so we excitedly held hands as we rushed to my mom’s room. She had been ill, you see, so I didn’t know how I’d find her. She heard my voice and sat up in bed, and in near-tears we embraced after what had seemed like the longest year. My mom has always been the rock, and there was no difference throughout most of last year – my year of hurdles. She was prayerful when I had my cancer scare. She was my cheerleader when I signed up to study for my PhD in Sustainability Education at Prescott College, AZ. Through my vulnerability about my work, my relationship and my calling – she was undeniably, the rock. But more recently she has been more frail in voice, more challenged, more delicate. I thought of some jokes to tell in order to start fulfilling one of my tasks. Then I remembered that my smiles often come easy, so I resorted to that, and it seemed to work. She was weak and tired but her spirit arose and she began to chat with us. My brothers joined us and there she was, with four of her seven children, telling us stories, even laughing sometimes!
That first week was about finding ways to bring hope back into our home. My brother Farai and my sister Felly and their families were also in the country, which made for a wholesome family time. We went shopping for groceries in Marondera and though it was good to see that all shelves were laden with goods, I couldn’t help imagine how the majority are getting by. As we weaved through the aisles, loading our trolley with the basic needs, my calculator (in my head) was looking at a running total of over $270 and the math just didn’t seem to add up for me. If commercial farmers were challenged to meet their monthly needs of buying groceries and paying school fees for their children, then how was the teacher, nurse or policeman who makes $150/month getting by? I later found out that the commercial farmers in Macheke were challenged, not because they had not worked hard last crop season, but because they have yet to be paid by the wholesaler who “bought” their produce. Quite a vicious cycle when not grounded sustainability - still, I couldn’t get to accepting this equation. I spent some time in the field with the farm workers and I thoroughly enjoyed the joy around them. This season, they were happy because the rains had finally come abundantly. With the rains had also come lots of wild fruits (case in point – mazhanje), wild mushrooms and wild greens. “It could be worse”, they chimed. I know my people well, so I can’t say I was surprised to hear of their appreciation of the simple things in life such the rain. But for me, this continues to shape my views on this fight against poverty. They are gratified when they can get just enough to meet their needs, and in times of lack, they are perseverant….
In Harare, I went with my longtime friend, Lynn to attend a few meetings to discuss the Macheke Sustainability Project. The meeting with Mukoma Ambrose Made at the UNDP was very encouraging. I gave an overview of the project and he gave his advice on how this could fit into their current mission in Zimbabwe. He suggested that the focus on the Environment and Climate Change would be most suitable and directed us to get in touch with the UNDP Small Grants Programme. This was very welcome to us as we already had a standing appointment with Aunty Khetiwe Moyo-Mhlanga at that office. She is graceful and a very well experienced visionary. It was such a delight to hear her tell me to send her the proposal for the sustainability work to be done in Macheke. Ben Hundermark at Acumen-Africa was also very helpful in describing their role in private entrepreneurship in Zimbabwe. While we are not eligible to apply for their funding because we lack starting cash, he suggested I look into their pilot business research program. The meeting with Mukoma Eliada Gudza, the Director of World-Links Zimbabwe was a great success. Since supporting Monte Cassino Girls High School in 2010 to get some computers, World Links has shown an honest interest in our education and technology initiative. In 2011, we hope to work closely with them to get some teacher training arranged for the schools in Macheke and also to acquire some computers for the technology center that we intend to build. As a software engineer, I have come to believe that when relevant, technology can be used successfully in bridging the gap for training and information in communities that would otherwise be left out. Now more than ever, I am convinced that we need transformational education that can remind us how we can best sustain ourselves. This can begin with programs that focus on how to develop an appreciation of a deep ecological approach to our human presence on the planet and how human well being is related to the well being of our biosphere. It is of essence to develop an appreciation of the aspects of our culture and ethnic language that foster love and the fact that being different adds to our global diversity which is so crucial for planetary sustainability. We have to ask why Macheke is struggling to advance away from poverty. And why have so many failed to define, let alone combat poverty? How can we make do with what’s available so that we are empowered to realize a sustainable future for ourselves and our children?
In the second and third weeks, I focused on speaking with the locals to assess the
microfinance needs of the community.The objective is to write a proposal that deals
with the need of a community financing office in Macheke My conservations with people at home were very special because there is something magnificent about hearing someone who lives with many daily challenges say that they are grateful to be alive and that they intend to keep working hard until things get better. My mom took an afternoon to take me out to the woods so I can learn about all the natural herbs that grow in Macheke. She has such a dense database of indigenous herbal medicine that I am convinced our healing center will be all the more richer because of it. Just from the short time I was there, I heard of deaths that could have been avoided, met with children that were trying to survive an ailing medical system and at first account dealt with the challenges of seeking care for my brother William. His hands got burned in an electricity fire accident and since the clinic in Macheke does not have the capacity to admit patients, we had to take him to Marondera. We brought him in to a private hospital and I must say I was shocked that we had to purchase everything from bandages, betadine, to pain medication. With a bill of over $1,100 when William was discharged a week later, I went back to wondering how someone who makes $1,000 per year in income would ever be able to afford medical care.
Back at the farm, my sister, nieces, nephews and I walked over to play “bhora” with the children whose parents work on the farm. Having a ball in hand was an easy attraction and without much deliberation, we began to play our cute version of village soccer. As we ran around the grass, air filled with laughter and hope, I locked eyes with six-year-old Tindo (nickname for “Tendai”). She had been shy to get active on a soccer field with boys [in Macheke, girls play netball because ‘soccer is for boys’] but with our encouragement, she came into her own, with her little dress that was torn on the back and was taking the game to heart. When she hit a great ball that went off into the bushes, I ran to meet her for a ‘great job – HIGH 5’. She was so proud of her contribution in the game and suddenly I saw who I was as a little girl. It reminded me of my days growing up here on the farm, full of dirt and full of life. I had received a blue dress from the clothes donation batch that the Catholic Mission had obtained from overseas. It was sewn like a school uniform, with pockets on the hip and a lovely royal blue. I loved that dress deeply and in that moment, I wondered 2 things: Who had donated that blue dress that ended up as my jewel? What I can I donate to Tindo so that the brightness in her eyes can translate to a bright future like I have?
On my last night in Zim, I spent it in Harare and I managed to gate crush a very fun party where I ran into old friends and schoolmates from my years in primary school. It was quite interesting to see what worlds apart this event in Harare was from my humble days in Macheke. By 5am, I had to escape the party and find my way to the airport in the greatest care of my newest brother-in-law. The sun was rushing through the skies (sunshine is never a struggle in this part of the world), made it to my gate on time and began to wonder where the three weeks had gone. Home is never far away, but it was clear that distance was about to take its toll. I picked up my carry-on bag at boarding time, making sure I had not forgotten to pack my sense of responsibility as that transformational leader who promotes collaboration, harmony, equality, spirituality and love, in the quest for sustainability in my home village of Macheke…
For pictures and video clips from my visit to Zimbabwe, please see:
http://flickr.com/gp/12002875@N04/31062A
http://flickr.com/gp/12002875@N04/Jt88kL
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