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
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