Project Report
| Jan 10, 2024
Bee Keeping Helps Support Widower and His Family
By Gary | Partner in Africa
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This is Mr. Moyo and he is a widower who is raising a young child on his own in the village. He is a really good farmer and grows enough corn and vegetables to sustain his little family. He became a beneficiary of the American Foundation for Children with AIDS supported bee project in 2021. One hive earned him $83 last year from 2 honey harvests. He was provided with a second hive in June 2022.
Today Mr. Moyo's bees have earned him $60 and his second hive is occupied by a small swarm who are busy building combs. Hopefully we can collect a small harvest for him in the coming months before winter sets in. We have also decided that due to his good stewardship, we are going to bless him with 2 more hives and provide him with more intensive training in bee keeping.
When asked how he would be spending his windfall, he said that part of it would be going toward food as there have been very erratic rains of late and his cropping had been badly set back. He would also pay for his child's first semester fees at the local Early Child Development Centre and any money left over would be going toward buying a new shirt. In a region where the average monthly family income is $32, this payout is a timely boost for Mr. Moyo.
The team here at the American Foundation for Children with AIDS thanks you for supporting this project and the work we do for the children in Africa. As you start to make decisions regarding your giving this year, please keep us in mind so we can continue our good work through 2024 and beyond. If you would like to learn even more about what we do or how you can meet some of the children you have helped, please contact Tanya Weaver at tweaver@AFCAids.org.
Aug 24, 2023
Path to Self-Reliance
By Tanya Weaver | Executive Director
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We arrive at the home of Siibadwile, who meets us at the gate with the biggest, tightest smile and a couple of her children. She is excited to have us look at the three kids born into her small herd of goats. She received three pregnant goats two months ago and now boasts a herd of six, inching her towards self-sufficiency.
A widow for various years now, she has four children, all who come out to shake our hands and offer us a shy "hello". They hang out, watching us closely as each goat is weighed and the babies are vaccinated. Dave runs through the paces of checking each goat - head, teeth, body, testicles, ears, etc. Each is pronounced to be healthy and she smiles and smiles, thanking us for this gift that can change her life.
I pull her aside and remind her of the value of the gift she's been offered, encouraging her to listen to Thando and Diamond when they offer advice and counsel during their visits to her homestead. I beg her to be patient and not sell, barter or eat any of her animals and she solemnly promises to stick to the program.
This is life changing. Thanks you each of you who are allowing us to make this possible. Thank you for being a life-giver.
The team here at the American Foundation for Children with AIDS thanks you for supporting this project and the work we do for the children in Africa. As you make decisions regarding your giving for the rest of the year, please keep us in mind so we can continue our good work through 2023 and beyond. If you would like to learn even more about what we do or how you can meet some of the children you have helped, please contact me at tweaver@AFCAids.org.
Apr 11, 2023
Widow's Family Receives 3 Goats
By Gary | Partner in Africa
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Meet 54 year old Sally from Silobi Village in Umzingwane District of Matabeleland South in Zimbabwe. She is a widow and HIV+, her husband having passed away from AIDS complications a few years ago. She is raising her 3 grandchildren on her own. The eldest is 16 and the youngest just turning 1 year old.
Sally makes a living by cutting and selling thatching grass during the winter dry months and also making grass brooms which she sells at $1 each. Her average monthly income is $35. She was identified 4 years ago as a potential beneficiary of the AFCA goat project and last week it was her turn to receive 3 pregnant goats from Morning Star Camp where the goat program is based. She received training in the basics of looking after her goats and was so excited to receive them. She sat and hugged one of the goats as her neighbors assisted in getting them settled. Sally said, " May God Bless Mrs Tanya and AFCA family for this big chance for me to do something better for my grandchildren."
Morning Star is privileged to be the local partner for AFCA in this life changing initiative.
We checked on Sally and her goats this morning. All is well and we expect the kids to be born during this month of April.
The team here at the American Foundation for Children with AIDS thanks you for supporting this project and the work we do for the children in Africa. As you start to make decisions regarding your giving this year, please keep us in mind so we can continue our good work through 2023 and beyond. If you would like to learn even more about what we do or how you can meet some of the children you have helped, please contact Tanya Weaver at tweaver@AFCAids.org.