Project Update (April 16)

Hi everyone,

It’s been months since I wrote, but not a day goes by that I do not think of this project. I have been very overwhelmed about the way forward because the situation in Zimbabwe has not been improving and that makes it very difficult to mobilize resources that can get the project moving.

Since then, I have done the following:
- I have completed my courses at Monmouth University and will be receiving my Masters Degree in Software Engineering & Management on May 20, 2009
- I have identified Macheke Primary School and Monte Casino Secondary School in Macheke that is ready to partake in the project [they engage in community service as well obtain an education to increase the number of educated professionals in the community. Community service will range from AIDS and Cholera advocacy, sustainable subsistence farming advocacy to activities that encourage environmental living and working in the community. The high school students already have local school clubs to focus on some of the issues – now it will just be more organized to breed a generation of civil servants. The education will give opportunities for students to go for higher education and be encouraged to come back or remain in the community to provide professional leadership]
- I visited the secondary school last year in May and gave a series of lectures on varying subjects. The most immediate need is books and internet access [they received computers from the government through the program Computers for Africa, but they cannot use them actively as they do not have access to the internet
- The students at Monmouth University’s Global Understanding convention are interested in supporting the project – we now have to work out details of the areas they can most effectively support
- I have identified 2 large commercial farms, 2 smaller farms and several subsistence farmlands that are ready to partake in this project. They will form a cooperative so that any farm equipment provided will be shared among the farmers and the produce will serve the community first. The idea is develop a program that feeds into itself by diversifying agriculture and employing locals that go through project training. It will be based on a social business model where there will be no 5% of the community owning all the land/wealth while everyone else is living below poverty level.
- I contacted Mr Marcus Hakutangwi who was the head of Swedish Cooperative in Zimbabwe and now he has been asked by the Gates Foundation to lead in developing a Barefoot University in Southern African with a focus on Agriculture to combat hunger in the long term. He is available to support and counsel and will give access to Monte Casino students to a sustainable agriculture education. The first University should open in a year or so in Mozambique
- I have met the UNDP-small grants programme director, Ms Khetiwe Moyo-Mhlanga and she is willing to lend her support in water-harvesting education for the project. She has also agreed to support any equipment procurement for the agriculture program if there is another organization that also lends support
- I am in contact with the World Links Executive Director, Eliada Gudza and he has confirmed that his organization will lend support in Agricultural Skills learning on the project.
- On February 6 this year, I attended the UNA-USA Members day conference where I met Tariq Banuri (director for sustainable development). He asked me to contact him so he can forward me to the correct team working on projects for Africa and am awaiting that information. I also made contact with the UNA-NCA Africa Committee member, Vivian Nguyen and will be meeting with them in DC to further discuss this project.
- I have been checking on the Development Marketplace site to see if there is a competition I can re-submit my project and so far I have not found anything.
- I am doing plenty of reading to attain more knowledge on embarking this challenge in the best way. I have read the “banker to the poor” and “a world without poverty” by Mohammed Yunus of the Grameen Bank as well “making poor nations rich” by Benjamin Powell. My next read will be “the challenge for africa” by Wangari Maathai.


I have not given up because I am determined to achieve success in deleting poverty while bringing sustainability to my community. I honestly feel that we can make a collective difference even in the worst country in the world – one person or one project at a time!

If you have been following the news about Zimbabwe, more/extended sanctions have been placed and the Zimbabwe Dollar became worthless so that the official currency is now the US Dollar. The Cholera outbreak has reduced, but the issues with AIDS and poverty continue to rise. In Macheke, there are people ready to learn and work to better themselves and their community. There are people who respect the journey of our spirit-medium, the honesty of our land’s elements and its nature. What they are seeking is guidance to live in sustainable harmony so as to restore what has been taken out of balance…

The list of things that are in need of funding on this project:
1. training --- renewable resources for the MSP project members
2. internet access --- many free online educational resources that are relevant for students
3. farm equipment & infrastructure
4. processing shed equipment and infrastructure
5. renewable resources equipment and infrastructure
6. education --- entrepreneurial course for local high school students