In consultation with the Headmaster and staff of the school the need for the children to learn new methods of agriculture in particular permaculture was recognized. Permaculture or sustainable agriculture is the way that Africans grew their food many years ago but since conventional agricultural methods, largely unsuccessful in these marginal areas, took over, it is no longer being practiced. It was hoped that while the children were learning they would also be able to take home the fresh vegetables and/or fruit. This in turn would motivate the community into becoming involved.

With the help of a handful of donors, a 1.4 km electric fence was erected around the school in order to keep the wild animals out. Then began the work of starting the garden, which included a vegetable plot, nursery and an orchard. More recently we have helped put up a chicken house and start a bee keeping project.

Over the last few years we have also sponsored the headmaster and various teachers to attend permaculture training courses. Nebiri School is so remote that it is not a popular posting and teachers are transferred regularly creating a lack of continuity, one of our major problems. To help alleviate this problem we send up to the school for week long periods at least three times a year a permaculture consultant to assess progress against a master plan drown up when the project began, give encouragement, and occasionally to run a workshop for parents and other interested people.

Seven years later we can say with confidence that this project has been truly successful.
The children continue to learn in the most practical way the benefits of sustainable agriculture and at the same time are getting sup0plementary food in the form of nutritious fruit and vegetables which they otherwise would simply be denied due to their families being too poor, and/or fresh food markets situated too far away and that they cannot grow the food themselves without the protection of an electric fence. And after many years of trying to gain the support of the parents and community the projects greatest success is probably due to the fact that this group of people are now very supportive and involved.

From all of this we feel that we have now more or less accomplished what we set out to achieve at Nebiri School and that the time is right to move forward and expand the project to other schools, something that has always been a long term objective.

What of the Future
Mr. Tapera Takawira the Headmaster who began the Nebiri Project with us was transferred to the nearby Chidygwamugwamu Primary School last year. Nebiri and ‘Chigwamgwam’ (abridged for ease of repetition) schools are very similar drawing from the same marginalized peoples living in a wildlife area etc. The big difference is that Chigwamgwam has 700 pupils as opposed to Nebirii’s 100! Taperas knowledge of permaculture and invaluable experience of having already implemented a project is the single biggest factor in choosing his school, some 50 km away, in which to expand.

The Wish List:
No dream comes without a price tag. After much discussion with Mr. Tapera Takawira, Mr. Sylvester Ncube, the Head of Nebirii School, and our permaculture consultant Mr. Tayero Kanamo, who was visiting the Nebiri School at the time of our recent visit to Nebiri School, we decided to draw up a complete ‘wish list’ in order of priority. We can provide more details on this but in brief:
A 3 km electric fence surrounding Chigwamgwam School
Borehole and water reticulation Chigwamgwam School
Extending Depth of Borehole, installing pump and pipes Nebiri School
Start Up Inputs (wheelbarrows, spades, etc.) Chigwamgwam School
Regular (once per term, i.e. three times annually, at least) visits to both schools by a permaculture consultant
Permaculture Training Programme
Beekeeping
Mangy Drying

If you feel you would like to make a donation please get in touch with John and Nicci for further information on
email: jsshome@mweb.co.zw fax+263-4-496113; or PO Box CH 84 Chispite, Harare, Zimbabwe