Help Us Provide Access to Clean Water in Zimbabwe

Dear Supporters,

Without water, it is impossible to run any institution, school and even household. And in a time when climate change has never been more real, drought is to be expected across Zimbabwe affection millions of people. Without water, it becomes impossible to hydrate, grow produce and provide sanitation causing a ripple effect on income generation, education and health. To address this, the GVI Trust has partnered with a social entrepreneur to assist in the development of Vermi-Aquaponics at rural schools in Zimbabwe to recycle the water of gardens to provide income, grow crops and save the water otherwise used for gardening for drinking and sanitation.

In recent years the impact of Climate Change are becoming more and more evident across the world, including in Zimbabwe. Whilst experiencing cyclone idai in 2019, the drought has simultaneously spread across the nation having devastating effect on the agricultural industry. Without water to grow crops, families are struggling to feed their families, earn an income and ultimately put their children through school and nonetheless, feed them whilst they are at school. To address this water crisis, the GVI Trust has adopted a holistic project which is not only to address the lack of income but which also targets the issues of drought, lack of quality education, school attention, hunger as well as climate change. 

By installing a vermi-aquaponic system at a local school, and coupling it with workshops about climate change and entrepreneurship the GVI Trust are addressing several issues at once. Vermi-aquaponics is a gardening system 

which only use 10% of water which would normally be used to maintain a garden whilst simultaneously increasing the yield of the intended crop whilst also incorporating fish farming into this system. As a result, schools will have the opportunity to save the small amount of water which is available for drinking and sanitation. In addition, the crops can be used to either feed the school children which is proven to increase attendance and performance; or sell the produce to complement with greater variety of nutrition or purchase resources such as books or solar panels. This will offer the opportunity to become environmentally and economically sustainable as vermi-aquaponics is completely organic and easy to maintain. 

After receiving applications from rural school, visited the sites to analyse the natural resources, the project is now bound to start in the beginning of February. It is easy to say that the GVI Trust is just as excited as the local schools to see a change. 

It is with your continued support that we can make an impactful and long-lasting impact in the community by tackling the crucial issue of drought. We are grateful for your generosity and it goes without saying that the GVI Trust and all its donors, play a vital and essential role in making a sustainable and impacting difference to the lives in Zimbabwe, and the environment in which we all live in. 

Your choice to support what we do in the field daily not only provides financial assistance to the projects but helps to bring hope to the community. We look forward to welcoming new and existing donors in the future, to join us on this remarkable journey.

With Gratitude,

Zimbabwe Preventing Drought