It has been a year since we heard from Dave & Martha Holman who run the charity – Love Zimbabwe. The couple live in Gilwern and visit Zimbabwe on a regular basis and continue to insitute new projects in the village of Domboshawa, 45 minutes north east of the capital – Harare. David and Martha gave us their news and updated us on the current situation in Zimbabwe.
In April last year we linked up with the Anthroplogy department of Lampeter University to take students to our community centre in Domboshawa, Zimbabwe.
We soon had seven students who wanted to come to Zimbabwe the following January – (2016).
Both Martha and I realised that the impact of young, committed students in the community in Zimbabwe could be pivotal in our future development as a charity as well as relating their experiences to groups in Wales.
On their arrival in January, the students were greeted at Harare airport with traditional Zimbabwean singing and dancing and also at the community centre, this time by the mothers of disabled children group.
We had planned a full programme to keep everyone occupied. The most emotional and effective projects were the outreach visits. We introduced the students to Anna, a local disabled lady who a few months before had been attacked in her home. We all went to her small hut which was in an appalling state.The next morning, two of them, Lucinda and Bridey wanted to go back straight away! They committed their own money to totally replace the floor and paint the inside. They also helped with another project with Mr. Kunaka, one of our commitee members who is blind and looks after three small children.
Several students came to visit Nyakudya Primary School, which is one of the local schools in our community. Eggy, Jessica, Seren and Bridey took classes for lessons in English and in climate change.
Another trip was to Mucheri Primary School where last year we had planted 100 trees. We were glad to be able to present the school with a cheque for $300 donated by Ysgol y Lawnt in Rhymney to help with their new library roof.
Last year a cement water tank was built to capture rain water from the roof of the toilet block. The students then helped to complete the guttering so that rain water could be stored in the tank.
We will once again be hosting our annual Wales Fair Trade Fair, which this year is in Brecon Guild Hall on Sat. 1st. October and in the Market Hall, Abergavenny on Sun. 2nd. October. There will be the usual array of stalls selling fairly traded goods from around the world as well as drumming, dancing and African food. Also, look out for the Love Zimbabwe stall outside the Methodist Church in Castle St. at this year’s Abergavenny Food Festival on 17th/18th Sep. See you there!
Dave & Martha Holman
