"DREAMS DON't HAVE TO BE BIG TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE..." (May 9, 2017 update)

The Mashonga and Memory Story, Phase 1. 

(Mashonga and his family).

HHTH has the mission to Empower Impoverished people through sustainability with education, food, health and hope.  Mashonga and his wife Memory work hard and struggle every single day just to feed their children (Shalom and Simeon).  Mashonga is a talented carver, but because of the economy here, it does not pay well enough to make a living, and there are no other real opportunities, since unemployment is above70%.  So, Memory sews for the public to try to add a little more income. Almost every Zimbabwean we interact with is hungry. 

Our assistance to Trust and Modestar in the  past years lifted them out of the jaws of poverty. They have altered their circumstances so much for the better, that we identified Mashonga and Memory as the next couple we wanted to empower. The process has a  much better chance of success if there is a strong husband and wife team working together. 

(Discussing a possible business for the family)

When Mashonga and Memory realized we were going to help them start a business, they couldn't believe their ears!  We first talked about a little Tuck Shop, and discussed the pros and cons for some time.  We told them to discuss it, think of other possibilities, and we would come back the next day. 

(Mashonga at Mr. Fix-it Hardware)

After careful consideration and in-depth calculations of costs and potential profit , Mashonga and Memory chose the chicken business as their hope. That is when we witnessed the desperation of their plight and their incredible energy to get out of this poverty trap.   Mashonga had every detail recorded of what they needed, with prices (they got this by walking from one place to the other to get all the quotes they needed).  Since they do not have "one stop shopping," sand and cement came from a different store than chicken wire and hardware, with still a different shop for chick feed, meds and  stress packs. Nothing is easy for a person at this poverty level.  

(Guys with wheelbarrow of sand).

Practically everything is done "the hard way."  The guys loaded 3 wheel barrows full of sand and dumped it in back of our trailer. The same routine for the loads of crushed rocks, river sand, cement, gum poles and zinc. 

(Simeon helping Janco) 

Our trailer fairly groaned from the weight of it all.  Little Simeon took it on himself to help Janco unhook the trailer but "no way Hose!"  They had to wait for some of the load to lighten. He really was a little trooper though. 

(Memory helping unload) 

Memory was so eager to help, she jumped into line to help unload 45 HEAVY, large bricks.  She is "hands on" in all phases of the project.  You get the sense that they see this as their one chance for a better life. 

(Mashonga and Memory's "room" where all 4 of them live)

This family of four does not have a house; they live in a 10' X 10' room within a house where they share toilet facilities. This chicken business represents so much more to them than you can imagine. It is a glimpse at another life that is much kinder than what they have known. So, their commitment to the success of this venture is total. 

(Mashonga and his friend onsite, immediately next to their room)

Mashonga and his helper friend, Tulhusie,  stand in the middle of their venture ready to construct the roof and put chicken wire around the gum poles then brick a wall half way up to the roof.  Adding a nice door and cementing the floor will just about complete the coup. 

(Trust advising Mashonga)

This is Mashonga's first time to raise chickens. We asked Trust, who has a lot of experience now, to help him. We want all our people to help each other when they can. So, Trust is advising Mashonga on the steps he needs to take, plus what all he must do in sequence to keep the chicks healthy and bring them to market. 

(Coup completed)

At this point, it only took one day to decide on the project, another day of planning, day 3 to gather all the materials and day 4 to complete the coup. HHTH helped all of them celebrate their success with a pizza party!

(Mashonga storing 3 phase feed)

Getting closer and closer to completion, we got the chicken feed, meds, feeders and waterers. Mashonga took a 3' X 3' sacred space from the family to store the 3 phases of feed for the chickens. It is vital to keep this feed safe.  Only a few more steps to go!

(Memory with their brand new freezer)

Broilers need to be sold at the 6 week mark. If there is no way to preserve them, and you continue to feed the chickens, they are eating away the profits.  With a nice, small freezer, Memory can package the unsold chickens and keep in the freezer until they are sold, then, their profits are preserved. 

That's right... Mashonga and Memory have everything for their chicken business except the chickens!!  🐣🐣🐥🐥🐥🐥No one in all of Victoria Falls sells chickens.!  They have to be ordered and trucked in. We hope to have a nice photo for you soon.  This story is only beginning. 

Many other exciting adventures are in process. Watch for the next post. 

Until next time...

From the Bush 🐘🐒,

Sidney

AT THE HEART OF THE WORK OF HHTH... (May 5, 2017 update)

(Trust with chicken pen)

You have met Trust several times.  He has been working hard with the Chicken project HHTH helped him start. We are extremely happy with the progress he has made. Here he proudly shows off another fresh batch of chickens. He is proud to say, he hasn't lost one yet. 

(L to R) Charmain, Trust, Little Wayne (a boarder's child), Modestar and Craig. 

Because your contributions have made it possible for this family to pull themselves up beyond poverty, they  can pay school fees for their children consistently, eat more than one meal a day, and generally live a better life. 

(Blessing in school uniform)

HHTH has been closely aligned with the Dadani Technological and Vocational School for some time. This school not only teaches academics, but also useful and current skill for the child who cannot go on to academic achievement.  Dadani believes every child has something that they can do that is useful. Their school motto is:  "The Necessity of the Useless," and he explains it this way.  A student can be taught to clean a floor, make a bed, cook, serve food, repair things and so on. Even with a huge disability,  they can contribute, provide a service and be useful. 

Please meet Blessing who has become an inspiration to us. She was a breach birth baby and in the process of birthing, her hips were badly damaged. This was not corrected and it now appears as a deformity, so she grew up being ridiculed and taunted. Her condition created shame for the family. This made Blessing withdraw inside herself to avoid the pain of rejection, being flawed, and a source of shame. The very pronounced limp which she struggles with in every step, is also quite painful to her. But, with the proper medical help, she could walk normally. She is very small for a 16 year old, and is unusually bright. Since coming to Dadani School where she is encouraged with love and affirmation, Blessing has thrived and gained the confidence that her limp is not her identity and that she can achieve her dreams of a higher education and to contribute with her gifts.  HHTH will use donated funds to pay her tuition so she can stay in school and realize her potential. We are hoping for donations to get her operations that will make her hips and legs function normally. We will start a fund for this purpose, if anyone would like to help this child. 

(Tafadzwa in yellow shirt)

Progress on Tafadzwa, who HHTH has assisted with tuition for two years. Tafadzw's father left the family before he was two years old and he has no memory of him. His mother has no means to support him, so we help with his tuition at Dadani Technological and Vocational School. Tafadzwa is a brilliant student and excels in all his subjects. He is highly proficient at chess and loves athletics. He is a respectful, charming young man who is studying to be a computer science graduate. Our investment in him has "paid off" in that he will have skills to help him be employed. 

(I-Beams). 

Work continues on the 5 workshop project that will house the Automotive Repair Shop, Computer Repair Shop, Sewing Class, and two others. HHTH bought the beams, the foundation is being laid  with hand made bricks, and soon a structure will appear!

(Large Chicken Coop for Broiler and Laying Chickens). 

This is more of the work going on at Dadani. It is another skill the children there get to learn. This is quite a successful business as the Zimbabweans LOVE their chicken. It is high tech with how the chickens will be fed, watered and cared for. 

Dadani is a visionary and continues to bring the vision into reality.  BUT, that's not all!

(Chicken feed grinder. )

Dadani grows grain at his farm, and this grain will be ground into chicken feed. First they will feed the chickens they have, and if there is surplus, Dadani said he would sell it to our 2 chicken guys (Trust being one of them) for a good price. It is HHTH's desire to have the people we help, help others as the "circle of life" grows. 

(Dadani explaining Jerry & Jacob's donation)

My son Jerry and grandson Jacob made a kind donation to the Dadani School and also donated a diagnostic tool for their automotive shop. It will be named J & J Automotive Shop in their honor. Dadani explains how the sand, cement, and bricks will be used very soon in the construction of the workshop. 

(Nyasha in front of books)  

The Dadani Library is thriving under Nyasha's expert care. She is thrilled to find out HHTH has a few more boxes for the library being shipped.  

(View of library with people sitting)

It is an awesome feeling to sit in what used to be an empty room that was just a dream. And now experience  the reality of that dream now serving the school and the community. It is thrilling to work with people so excited about what we are all involved in, that it gets done like magic. It is the magic of hope in action. 

Until next time.... from the Bush, Sidney

BACK TO THE DARK CONTINENT (April 30, 2017 update)

April 18:  After working for a year, and preparing for the many projects, HHTH is finally ready to temporarily leave our homeland. 

(Dadani and Gladys)

Dadani and Gladys said their goodbyes, then Boarded their plane two days before we did to beat us to Zimbabwe. What a great punctuation to the beginning of our work in Africa. 

(Jerry loading boxes)

April 19:  My son, Jerry helped us finish packing boxes then took us to the first point in the journey of our shipment of 58 boxes. 

(Jerry with a few of our bags) 

April 20: At last we are at the first leg of a long two day flight.  We carry what we can for the orphans, which meant 3 large bags each, 3 carry on's, and 3 personal satchels. This translated into 9 huge suitcases, 3 overnight bags and 3 LARGE purse like bags.  Yay!!! Finally ready to Board and fly to Heathrow in London before proceeding to Addis Abba which would take us on to Johannesburg.  A bit exhausting to fly 2 days rather than the usual one day flight. 

(Janco picking us up in Johannesburg). 

April 22:  what a welcome sight to see Janco and our rig. We are in our second home!  The HHTH Team was ready to "rock and roll" African style. Anything unpredictable can happen at this point... and it happened almost immediately. We had a room booked, but when we got there the atmosphere fairly wreaked of danger.  The neighborhood was really rough, the proprietor looked like a gangsta  and there were 2 huge guys lurking around that looked like his henchmen. We decided to ... "back away from the big guys...". And they did NOT like that. They said, "your safety is our priority,". But the look on their faces told a different story.  We gracefully left the premises, much to their consternation at the lost opportunity to relieve us of all our belongings. 

(Janco and CJ)

"PATIENCE IS SOMETIMES A VIRTUE", BUT NOT THIS TIME."  

April 23:  After a day of driving through South Africa, we neared the Boarder of Botswana and Kolobe, one of our favorite African lodges. Stopping in front of the gate, we realized we were chained and locked out and darkness was stealthily creeping upon us, and the "not so friendly wild night life" was lurking in the long shadows.  So, Janco's patience quickly ran out (after 32 seconds) and he bounded up the fence and threw himself over the top. 

(Janco climbing the fence)

(Kolobe lodges)

We were inside the complex and looking at warm, cozy beds after a dusty day on the trail. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT!

(Elephant and Hippos)

April 26:  Once the first elephant (up close and personal) crossed our path and we heard the awkward grunting honking sound terminating in a hum-hum-hum-hum-hum ecstasy of groans from a pod of hippos, we knew T. I. A. was happenin'... (This Is Africa). 

(Takura, at Zim Border Post)

April 26:  We arrived at the dreaded Zimbabwe Border Post and our prayers were answered. Our friend Takura was there and we were able to get through without a long and tiresome delay.  I had brought him one of my Golfer son's golf shirts because we appreciate his friendly help. He was a "happy cappie. "

(Carvers with food)

April 29:  THE MAGIC OF OUR CARVING ARTISTS. 

We woke up so anxious to come see our friends. Because we always get the carvers their African Mealie and garnish. Without it, the African man does not feel like he has eaten if he has't had his Mealie. So, our team rushed around to pick up a 20 kg of Mealie, then to veggie mart for tomatoes,cabbage, green peppers, and onions... then to top it off, we went to the butchery which was locked tight. Thinking they were closed, we started to walk away, but a lady ran to the door, hailed us down and pulled us in the shop rapidly closing and locking the door again.  She said, "We must keep the doors shut and locked  because the baboons can open any door and they run in and steal the meat." So we chose sausage from what the baboons left and took it all over to the carvers work area. Seeing the food they did a dance of jubilation and shout of joy.  36 men were able to eat three days from that one bag.   So, our work began. Every year, HHTH buys carvings from them to sell to raise fund for the Charity. In addition, it gives them work and helps with feeding their family. This was a very satisfying day. Good people got to eat and feel full. The joy in their face was ample repayment. 

Until next time... "From the  Bush"