This year the fellowship donated money and the donations received at the Carols in the Port were sent to Zimbabwe. Inflation is high and food, petrol and medicine shortages.
Acacia News – 23 December 2018
Thank you JIBC for sending money for the Just4Fun Fund for the children in Mazwi Village to have a Fun morning 2 weeks ago. The remaining money will go for outings and camps………..SIYABONGA. Sarah & Graham
July 2021 Update With the money JIBC sent for children at Christmas time we were able to take 30 teenagers to the Theatre for an African Performance. They really enjoyed this outing…Thank you very much for making it possible. The following week the performers came to ECD and gave us our own little show! At the end of term the ECD children gave the parents/carers a little performance.
We then closed for school holidays but have not been able to return after the 3 weeks as Zimbabwe is in another lockdown and opening of schools is delayed by 2 weeks. We were able to meet as a church for 14 weeks then because of this latest lockdown no gatherings are allowed so we are unable to meet on Sundays or Tuesday afternoons for Life Group. The Sunday School had been meeting separately as we were more than 50 adults and would be breaking Covid protocol. We are thankful to God that no one in Mazwi Village has had Covid and some have been vaccinated. The Mamas HIV Support have not met as often as the mamas have been harvesting their maize, groundnuts for peanut butter and sunflowers. They have continued to receive alternate Nutrition and Hygiene Packs. One of the activities in the Mamas Group was to tell each other about one tradition from their childhood they would like their children to continue. The teenage girls have just received their monthly sanitary packs and also some clothing. Teenage boys also received soap and Vaseline.
72 children in Primary School were given a warm hat and gloves for winter….although it was a sunny day when we distributed these it can be very cold in Bulawayo in winter! 26 Children under 6 years were given ePap and a nutritional milk drink this week. Poppy the cow is almost ready to give birth so she is not giving milk for the children to drink.
October 24th 2021 First 2 Outings...Sisonke Youth Group. Two groups of 20 youth aged 15-18 and 13-15 enjoyed an outing to The Waterfront, Hillside Dams. Thank you to those who have given to the Acacia Just4Fun Fund and to Sherine Anne Demba for the sausages for these first two outings.
ORPHAN SUNDAY - 07 NOVEMBER 2021 ACACIA and Mazwi Community Church wrapped 12 orphans in a Blanket of Love and told them, 'God Loves You and We Love You' Then we prayed for each one and also the Mamas and Gogos who look after them. Thank you for giving into the WOCH Fund
19th November2021 Mazwi Village ECD children watching Poppy being milked.....and some of us had a go!
The last of 5 children's and youth outings for 2021. This one for 7 year olds. The Just4Fun Fund is now emptied and we will start receiving donations for 2022. Hopefully we will be able to have a Camp next year!
Outings 3 and 4 ......8-10 year olds. The Waterfront, Hillside Dams. It was really lovely to see some of our newly orphaned children having fun with some of their friends. The trampolines were a big hit. Thank you to those who contributed to the Just4Fun
24th November 2021 Rain has been filling our tanks! The bottom one is overflowing and Papa G is working on pumping the water up to the top one. We were using a car battery without too much success but have just purchased 2 Solar panels to help with this!
'Sibambene'....the name for the Mazwi Village Mamas HIV Support Group. 'Sibambene' means 'We are united' - one of our values and the words in a song Olivia always used to sing. Sunflower because that's what the Mamas grow .....and we remember with fondness Ncedisani in the sunflower field. Red spots and red AIDS ribbon to signify we are an HIV Support Group. Thank you Earth Cafe for hosting our Sibambene Mamas HIV Support Group Outing to mark World AIDS Day (early) and the end of the year (early)
March 2022 The School Sponsorship Programme is always at it’s highest work level in January as this I the start of the academic year in Zimbabwe. New uniforms, shoes, books, stationery etc were prepared for 48 children in Primary School and 17 in Senior School. With fittings, photos and reports to sponsors we all tried to be ready for 09 January with the aim of then being able to focus on the new ECD intake. However…….the Government announced a further 2 week delay with Covid Lockdown which when reviewed meant another 2 week delay. When the children eventually started school there were no teachers as all were striking for pay increase. After another 2 weeks the teachers were threatened with suspension for 3 months. What a dreadful state the education system is in. The Primary School children are now at school with teachers but the Senior School only has 4 teachers!
Sarah and team benefitted from a few extra days to get ECD ready! Sheron started her 2nd year in teacher Training College and Welshman started in Year 1. It is always a joy to do the Home Visits before these little ones start. The visits give such an insight into their home environment. We have 16 children this year including a disabled boy with Special Educational Needs. Last week we had an Orange Day to remember children with cancer in Zimbabwe. It was quite moving to see our little ones praying for other children. We enjoyed orange cupcakes and an orange to take home! The children still benefit from milk from Poppy and Saffron. Saffron has had a male calf.
Martin – one of Ncedisani’s orphans and Thabile (who, like Martin is HIV +) have started doing jobs on Plot 707 like helping look after the cows and pigs and agricultural work. Bright has been appointed as Field Officer for Plot 707 and is mentoring Martin and Thabile who hope to get a place at Ebenezer Agricultural Training School in July. The lads are growing in confidence, working hard and enjoying being together.
The Mamas HIV Support Group - Sibambene have been meeting. Last week we talked about foot care and had a foot washing ceremony! I had asked them to bring a bowl---some brought a tin, some bowls had been repaired at the bottom. Next time a Hygiene Pack is due I am planning to put their products in a new bowl.
Crops We received lots of rain in January and the beginning of February and everywhere the crops were looking very green and healthy. The crops are now stressed and not looking good.
Mazwi Community Church The children are now allowed to meet with us again on Sunday mornings and it has been ‘full house’ the last few weeks. We have a new drum! It is wonderful for young and old to worship together.
WOCH The Widows, Orphans and Child Headed Households continue to be supported with food and toiletries. We have bought some new wheelbarrows from this fund to enable the children to be able to fetch and carry water and wood more efficiently. We are sorting out getting each orphan a goat to care for and potentially help with income generation.