Completed.
Thank you so much for supporting this transformation. In an early response, Rodwell writes, "I want to express my sincere and deep heartfelt appreciation for the support rendered to us with the installation of the solar system! As a nation, most of the Regions in Zimbabwe are currently subjected to serious power outages over 15 hours per day because of insufficient water in the Kariba Dam to drive the nation's hydropower plant. Load shedding has crippled many industrial activities to 'job shedding'. It was very difficult for us to run meetings on zoom or teams, fridges, stoves, lighting, etc! Now we are able to run and function most of all of our household implements. THANK YOU, to all who participated and supported us in this solar project! It's a need met indeed. FOREVER GRATEFUL" Rodwell and family
Zimbabwe has been experiencing power cuts of up to 19 hours a day. This makes living and working from home extremely trying as it disrupts the rhythms of life as people have to get up in the middle of the night to make use of the power when it is on. As Rodwell is our President, it is important that he has the means to communicate freely and for people to be able to contact him. This project is not a kneejerk response to a tough year in Zimbabwe as it has been their reality for several years and there is little evidence that this will change. Several cheaper options were considered which would not cater for the fridge or cooker (stove) however it was felt this was the most appropriate option for them.
We are so grateful🙏. The motorcycle was bought and is effectively serving Edmond with the purpose of SOWERS and Sowers ministry. Edmond has made such profound significant revival in the SI Zimbabwe work. He has started around 5 Provincial Committees who are running the work and ministry of Sowers effectively as a result of the motorcycle.
The motorcycle Edmond has is old and the running costs are too high. It has now become more of a liability than an asset. A replacement is needed so that Edmond has a cheap and reliable form of transport as he visits, trains, and encourages teams and individuals.
Thank you for your support. Rodwell writes, "The borehole has provided the water needed to resume our chicken and gardening projects"
Zimbabwe has had a series of dry spells for more than 5 years. In 2019-2020 there was a critical water crisis nationwide. Most water sources including dams, and even water tables depleted badly which led to the suspension of the Chicken and Gardening income generating projects. Having a guaranteed water supply would be hugely helpful and encouraging for all concerned.
Phase 2 is before us now. Increasing droughts mean we need to deepen the well to the original target of 70m (we stopped at 50m due funding) and the water storage capacity needs expanding.
Thank you for your prompt response. Mother and baby are now fine. So is father
Medical intervention was needed for a difficult pregnancy and delivery. There was a serious risk to life. Your gift will help repay emergency loans.
Donate online USD475
What happened?
Our Zimbabwe Sowers National Coordinator's wife had complications during delivery. It was deemed an emergency Caesarean operation by the doctors. The Caesarean operation was successful. Both the mother and the baby are safe and sound.
The Sowers ZW board had to submit an emergency application seeking for funds to pay the doctors and hospital bills. The Finances applied were used to pay the doctors and hospital bills which included medications. The Project has provided great assistance in the saving of the lives of both the mother and the baby.
We are very much grateful to the donors of the project
Thank you. Your support enabled a rapid build and protection of family food supplies.
Edmond writes, "I am very happy for the fence, please pass my gratitude to the donor, that Edmond is extremely happy for the fence because my crops are very secure from domestic animals. Actually, my harvest is very certain as the rains continue falling. Tell the donor that you're God sent, may his sacrifice be remembered before the Almighty."
This project will allow Edmond to erect a barbed wire fence around his one hectare maize plot. If he doesn't do this, wild and domestic animals will eat the maize. They will feed their family with the maize and sell the balance to generate a bit of finance.
USD1125
Drought severely impacted the crop nationwide, unfortunately. Some funds were recouped and applied as in the report below.
SOWERS in Zimbabwe is working hard on income generation projects to fund the ministry. This soybean project is led by a qualified agronomist and is another step along the way to their goal of national funding within 2 years. Could you help with seed money?
Donate online USD5175. Perhaps you have a $100? Every bit will help.
Updates from Zimbabwe:
Jan 2020: In early December, 2 hectares were planted under the supervision of Philip M*. Unfortunately, Zimbabwe has had another very bad dry spell which has hit hard and written off most crops nationwide.
However, Philip had advised the Board on subsidiary compensatory projects of sugar beans and/or potatoes. They have bought the sugar beans seed and are working on planting the sugar beans this January.
Nov 2019: The harvest of the soya bean was far below the 25% anticipated due to the severity of the drought effects. The Board has agreed to keep the harvested crop for seed for the next season of 2019-2020 through the advice of our Supervisor director. At least the project has given us value in the seed which is one of the most expensive and needed commodities for the continuity of the project in the next season. The project has a great and higher potential if the rain season is favourable. The Board is still very confident of the success of the project granted a favourable rain season! It was quite a great learning process with vast experiences in the whole process of the Project.
May 2019: We have managed to plant 3 hectares of Soyabean through the guidance of our agronomist, Philip M. The Rains are a bit late in Zimbabwe this season, but we had sufficient rains in the Region of Karoi for the germination of most crops planted.
Thank you. Funding pledged from Australia.
Donate online USD215
What happened?
I am happy to announce the Internet has been installed today. This message I have used the WI-FI to access internet. Praise God this is the advantage of small town they act fast.
Your Coordinator on cloud nine
Edmond
Completed - Thanks for the thoughtful donation.
To replace the present laptop computer which has done many years of service and now needs replacing as it can no longer be fixed.
Donate online USD750
The chickens are cheeping in a scaled back project. Thanks for your vision in supporting this project.
Establishing a Chicken laying farm of 300 birds as an Income Generating project. We're halfway there, thanks to generous donors. Would you help close the gap? Donate online USD10,055
What has happened?
Report 3: The Chicken project has been switched over to Broilers from the Layers and has proved the most successful one. The Project has generated quite some profits for the Sowers Program. It was quite thriving until it was stalled by the challenges of shortages of water and electricity. City Council water is out completely.
The Board agreed to use some realized profit from the Project to purchase special equipment items to make the project self-sustaining:
- We've bought a freezer to store the slaughtered chicken
- We have managed to buy a 1000 ltrs tank of water for the storage of water
- We have managed to dig and construct a water well, 18mtrs deep with plenty of water now.
- We have managed to pay Musa 50USD monthly, for 3months.
- Our plan is for the project to resume end of this month once a device to pump the water from the water well is installed.
Report 2: The project has been slowed down badly due to water and electricity challenges. Often electricity load shedding goes for 12hrs daily.
We have never had City Council water since January this year. Our water well has dried up due to lower water table levels because of the current prevailing draught. We have had to buy water at 100rtgs per 5cubic ltrs. We are digging another deeper water well. Chicken orders are taking time to materialise because of competition. As soon as our new water well is completed, we will resume on the project.
Report 1: THE USE OF PROJECT PROFIT FUNDS
Part of the funds were used to finance the Capital Injection Top up difference for the 2nd Batch of Chicken Layers. Birds were increased to $15 from the initial $12 per bird.
Some funds were used to buy materials to construct another Chicken House for Broilers.
Part of the funds were given to the Sowers Ministry to make up for the May and August TT deficit from the SIHQ
The other part was used to book for 200 broiler chicks and feeds. (We are still awaiting their delivery, possibly this early September) currently the stocks are very tight due to demand.
COMPLETE. Thank you.
Samuel and Thandiwe have a need for basic furniture after being forced to move. Samuel is the National Coordinator for Zimbabwe and doing a great job. Sadly their income makes it impossible to buy any of the needed items. Please don't send furniture unless you live nearby, but otherwise ... Thanks.
Thanks for your support. Growth in the SOWERS ministry in Zimbabwe has reached the point where a full-time staff member is needed, rather than the part-time position of late. We want to continue the momentum that exists in training churches to use this tool that is so effective in reaching people for God. Would you join us in prayer for the USD5520 per annum that is needed?
Thanks to our generous donor.
It is no news to anyone that communication is critical. SOWERS makes a huge effort to keep costs to a minimum by using electronic communication wherever possible. Yet even that is relatively expensive in countries such as Zimbabwe where other things can be so inexpensive. One donation of USD465 per year to cover the cost of internet access would release other desperately needed funds for very productive ministry.
Wheels are in motion. Bless you for your help.
Transport is a huge challenge for our National Coordinator. He needs to vist and develop widely scattered teams of Sowers. He needs to take a sketchboard and easel to training seminars. Try to imagine carrying them on a bicycle for long distances over rutted dirt roads. A motorbike will greatly increase his productivity. USD2300.
Thank you for helping. The vehicle is fixed.
Rodwell's roles as our Zimbabwean chairman are many and varied. He is self-supporting though farming. He has the care of Sowers. He has a significant ministry outside SOWERS, too, and is instrumental in meeting the needs of many. One key tool in much of this is his vehicle. This has broken down and stopped much of his work including family support. USD630 is needed to get it back on the road.
Project complete, thank you.
The wires don't stay up on the poles! Telephone cables are so valuable for their scrap value that thieves have taken them down and Zimbabwe's phone company doesn't have the foreign currency to buy replacements - not that they would stay in place long either. The solution - a wireless facility. Communication to and from SOWERS Zimbabwe can most economically be obtained in this way. USD310