| Basket Making |
The most successful of the projects has been making traditional Zimbabwean baskets. What began as four groups and 52 women in 2000, has prospered into 18 groups of approximately 250 women making spectacularly beautiful baskets.
The Foundation is the primary market for the baskets. We buy the baskets from the projects to complete their business cycle. The baskets are then sold in the United States with all the profits returning to the villages to pay school fees for our identified orphans. In 2000, we paid school fees ($10.00 per student per year) for 108 orphans and in 2005 we supported 927 orphans as a result of baskets sold.
The baskets are created using the fibers from the sisal plant. These fibers are twined and wrapped around a core of sweet grass in original patterns. The colors in the baskets are created by boiling the fibers with various tree barks or flower blossoms, or in some cases, by using the plastic string from fruit bags (orange or green). The dark blue colors are created by boiling the fibers with carbon paper.
Basket making is a traditional art form and we are encouraging the caregivers to involve the orphans in the process to keep the traditional alive.
| Poultry |
We began in 2000 with six poultry projects. The Foundation supported the initial building of chicken houses, the purchase of the chicks, and "starter" feed.
These groups initially did quite well, but with persistent drought and poor harvests of corn, obtaining feed for the chicks became a luxury and the projects failed. Most of the project groups used their "savings" to shift to other more sustainable projects (such as basket making or sewing), but with the hope to return to poultry as conditions permit.
The project intent was to raise chicks to six weeks and then sell them as "boilers." This rapid turnover was to provide a good return to the women in a relatively short time. We again sought the assistance of the "Agri-tex" representatives for basic education. We established clear business plans with each project to keep them self-sustaining.
| Gardens |
The Foundation supports these efforts by providing seeds, fencing, and arranging education programs by the "Agri-tex" representatives in the area. There is a great deal of friendly competition among the groups and an annual "Garden Show" gives prizes to the best gardens. The ongoing severe drought is a constant threat to the success of the gardens. The need for irrigation systems remains critical.
There are garden projects in all the villages we work in. The "families" caring for orphans are given plots in the community garden space for their use. The vegetables grown are used for family consumption as well as marketable crops.
| Sewing |
There are six groups of caregivers involved in sewing projects; these groups have grown and prospered. Originally The Foundation provided a sewing machine per group and the materials needed to create school uniforms to sell. With their continuing success and the support of a donor, the groups are making children's clothing, choir uniforms, and sports uniforms for the schools. In 2005, one group used some of the profits to subsidize the purchase of more sewing machines.
| Soap Making |
In 2004, two groups began producing soap. They were given a seed press by The Foundation, as well as caustic lye from which the soap is made. They use the seeds from the Yatrofa tree to obtain oil for the soap. The finished product is marketed to schools, clinics, and community members. The original group has trained the second group in the techniques and they share the seed press.
| Peanut Butter |
There are four peanut butter-making projects in the Gwanda District. These projects are being done primarily by elderly grandmothers. Each of the groups was given a peanut grinding machine. The groups purchase the peanuts themselves and produce peanut butter that is sold to stores and individuals.