ࡱ>  Root Entry( Jr_$oMatOSTo_$oMMMN0,ND ( JrMicrosoft Works MSWorksWPDoc9q March 8, 2007 Dear Friends of Zimbabwe, Greetings from the soil here! We have been here for over a week, having left on the 21st of February. We, is my godfather John and myself. Y, as well as made contact with individuals working in these areas. Our focus is the children, their education and their health. Hopefully we will be able to update you more in the next Field Report as things develope. MHONDORO We left Bulawayo, and its wind and rain (possibly from the effects of Cyclone Jacob in Mozambique), to find the Nhimbe project area dry to the bone. Very little rain has fallen there during the whole summer season which should normally be wet. People are again concerned that tSP&,) )&)&)&)&)=/d&)&t*&)8)T March 8, 2007 Dear Friends of Zimbabwe, Greetings from the soil here! We have been here for over a week, having left on the 21st of February. We, is my godfather John and myself. You have heard about this man over the years, as without his financial support covering my living expenses, I would not be able to donate my time as I do. He is 86 years young and an adventurous, easy going soul. Helen Six, a registered nurse, was intending to also be part of the team this trip but at the very last minute her father, who is in his late 90s, had some medical issues come up. After midnight, the morning we were leaving at 4:30, we began repacking to redistribute the priority items. She found out that she needed to remain behind. Some of the things we were going to bring had to wait for another trip. Upon arriving, one of our suitcases was lost but then was found after a week. It was a challenge as it carried many personal items, but gratefully was not gone forever. Then after being here for a day or two, I received word that my father-in-law passed away. It was like the ground was moving beneath my feet and I was just hoping it was not indicative of the unfolding trips temperament. When things come in 3s I look for messages and decided we had better get fluid and flexible so that we adapt to the upcoming month. After these first unexpected things, everything has been going along smoothly. We still are having the regular challenges of phone circuits unable to manage calls, hyperinflation affecting anything one buys and the general confusion - its hard for people to think clearly when life is so stressed here and there is no food. ECONOMY When we arrived we heard that the street rate of exchange was about 6,300 zim dollars to 1 us dollar. A week before it had been 5,000 and now 10 days later we hear it is 8,000. This is really in actuality the equivalent of 8 million instead of 8 thousand because just last August they had to remove 3 zeroes. When it reached 1 million it was getting too confusing and people were making too many mistakes so everyone turned in their old money and they started over, issuing 1s, 10s etc up to 10.000. As many of you know on my first trip to here early in 2000, the bank rate was 38 to 1 and the street rate was 42 and we thought that 4 zim dollar difference was a big deal. We have integrated this evolution over the years to accommodate this situation, always trying to comprehend the impact on the average villager who doesnt get to town often. In town, the people cant afford to take the bus to their jobs because their wage may not change so how do they eat. School fees everywhere continue to rise and many children simply do not go to school. The bank rate of exchange is around 250 to 1 and hasnt changed for months. How does the average person get their mind around this and survive day to day? The stress itself is enough to kill a person, let alone finding food. PROJECTS OVERVIEW In Zimbabwe, Ancient Ways is working with 3 humanitarian projects in 3 parts of the country. We have nurtured Nhimbe for Progress since its inception in late 1999 seeing serious substantial and continuous growth beginning in 2001. Nhimbe is the research and development station where we learn what works and what doesnt. The 2nd project, Jangano, was started in late 2005 in an entirely different area utilizing the Nhimbe model. Jangano has benefited from our experience, having an older sibling, and has moved right along. We are also watching a 3rd project called Umgami Wami, a Ndebele word meaning friendship, unfold in the Bulowayo region of the country. Here we are exploring working with the educational and health needs of orphans where one or both parents have passed on, primarily due to AIDS. Nhimbe and Jangano are working with Shona people and Umgami Wami with the Ndebele. Although there are some similar customs, many are different, as are the languages. Our first few days took us to Bulawayo to look at the Umgami Wami project definition there. Spurred on by Lola Broomberg, a Eugene Oregon resident, performer and teacher, who grew up in Zimbabwe, and generously hosted by her parents in Bulowayo, we found a great hunger for assistance with the orphans. We met the mayor of Bulowayo, the AIDS Council therehe drought conditions will mean no food. Fortunately we have seen and heard that the school children in our schools in both regions are receiving their lunches of porridge at school. Maybe the government is providing the food? We, members of Nhimbe, Jangano and the Planning staff, enjoyed time together in training, some in attendance for 3 days. We explored current needs and issues, suggesting solutions and alternative thinking about problems, as well as sharing a hierarchical organizational chart to facilitate better communication and clarify questions about how all the pieces fit together. After discussions, analogies and metaphors, everyone tapped into the big picture. When we are younger we may look at that younger sibling and feel like we dont want to share our toys but as we get older we see that another person in the family strengthens the whole. Everyone concluded that the experience gained in all regions of the country is enhancing the overall efforts! All Zimbabweans are telling the same story, have the same basic needs, and Spirit sees them all first as humans, brothers and sisters, all needing assistance. We have the following jobs on the ground running the programs and services. Everyone is on a part-time basis currently and is a Zimbabwean. We primarily fund these positions with sales of their exports. After we purchase the items in Zimbabwe we send them to the US and sell them at each opportunity, using the moment of sale to share the story. Nhimbe for Progress Meaning Working Together for Progress Project Director Cosmas Magaya Project Manager - Managing the activities of 7 rural villages. Educational Manager & Librarian Managing the over 430 childrens sponsorships Librarian Assistant Assists the manager w/ the Shona, English and text books. Tutor Holds sessions every weekend with all grades. Fabrics Prepares each childs fabric package - 8 schools all different fabrics. Preschool Manager and Lead Teacher Manages the preschool of over 75 children. Preschool Teachers 1 and 2 Run classes for the youngest children. Preschool Cook - Cooking and cleaning for a meal each school day. Building and Security Manager Oversees huts, toilets, wells, tsotso stoves 3 guards Alternates night time shifts at the Community Center Groundskeeper Manages the 3 stands and 4 buildings of the Community Center Community Center Assistant Assists the Groundskeeper Nhimbe Office Groundskeeper Cares for the Nhimbe office grounds Inventory Control Clerk Manages the in/out flow of supplies for Nhimbe Village Health Worker Provides basic first aid for villagers and preschoolers Jangano Meaning Helping One Another Project Directors Fradreck Mujuru and Fungai Mujuru Project Manager Managing the activities of the 6 rural villages and 121 kids Umgami Wami Meaning Friendship Project Director in definition Regional Operations Looking out for the Whole Planning Director Oversees finances and budgeting Executive Assistant Health Director DONHODZO HEALTH CENTRE We prepared the application for the Donhodzo Health Centre, to currently operate out of 2 rooms at the Nhimbe Community Center. That paperwork was submitted in December and we are awaiting the reply from the Ministry of Health. As we walked the path of the governmental registration process we realized that although physically housed by Nhimbe, the projected growth of the Centre and the professional development of our nurse belongs outside of the Nhimbe project, as both serve a far greater region that of all of Zimbabwe. Donhodzo is really a legal framework with in which to operate medically. The staff will actually be paid by the other projects: the Senior Nurse, as part of the Regional Operations team, the Health Station Aide as a Nhimbe Village Health Worker, and the Pharmacy as the Nhimbe Inventory Control Clerk. These positions are already in place and so the workers will be volunteers at the Donhodzo. The Donhodzo Health Manager is the Senior Nurse, Fredreck Muchiriri, whom we found last year that has the heart, mind and vision for integrated medical care. Fredrecks whole being expanded to consider alternatives during his training as he faced the limitations of prescribing drugs, primarily in the mental health wards. He has been reading each and every new physics book he can get his hands on and is daily palpating his spiritual path and purpose on the planet. Training has been donated on his behalf by Dr. Leslie Feinberg in the US (see . We, is my godfather John and myself. You have heard about this man over the years, as without his fina Os&{t{t{o{o{o{o{( H 029;L N qq h&~A&`P*zxxxzGMOs ' * , D Y"["##x#%%&&&Mz#&NOPQTimes New Roman =/=/dCompObjU