Dear Friends,
Just a few weeks ago the
government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Agriculture announced that the
current farming season had not produced any crops that would be of sustenance to
families and thus declared a drought. This means that the government and non-governmental
organizations have to once again come in and provide some food aid, financing
and other support to ensure that people and communities do not die of hunger.
For those closely following my
blogs you will notice that last month I mentioned that the crop situation I saw
when I was travelling around the country carrying out an assessment was
pathetic. In the remote and most rural areas we drove past field and fields
with stunted plants that barely resembled corn or maize. I also mentioned a
couple weeks back that even though you could see foodstuffs in the stores, the
people just do not have the money to buy the food on the shelves. Friends,
families and children in this country are at the brink of starvation and we
have to work together to see how we can mitigate the impact of this drought on
families.
I am today particularly very
thankful to God for the partners He has directed to us. In the next few weeks
we will be rolling out programs that will see over 1000 children getting meals
in schools. To some this will probably be the only meal of the day whilst to
others this will be an add on to the already small measures they are given at
home. Our friends at 2SecondsorLess.org (2SOL) will in the coming months be
renovating preschool buildings, starting low input nutrition gardens and
feeding the littlest and most vulnerable kids. Through a new partnership with
ZoomAID UK we will also be feeding over 500 boys and girls per day first at one
school and as the program develops roll out to other schools. This is real time
action and a direct response to the threat of drought that is in this country.
I am truly grateful to these organizations for stepping up and helping to
support the work we are doing in Zimbabwe but more importantly reaching out to
the children who without this help will be coming to school and going back home
on empty stomachs.
We all can do something to help
and thank you to those that have been sending us emails and showing that they
can help albeit in a small or big way. As I always say, all hands on deck, lets
get muddy as we go all the way to support these children who otherwise have no
one else to look up to. Be the change you wish to see in the world!
Until next time,
Patrick
Since there is nothing so
well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them.
-Francesco
Guicciardini
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