Provide Youth in Zimbabwe with Hope

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. While talking with her, I lose my concentration because I suddenly take notice of the beautiful latrine on the edge of her property. Siibadwile and her children are the recipients of a #LooLove!! They no longer need to use the bush as a restroom! Yahoo!!!!!! 

I ask her about the latrine and she proudly takes me over, telling me how it doesn't smell and how nice it is to have a safe, clean latrine. I am the one smiling hugely now and am so excited to know that, with work from her side and encouragement from ours, this family has every chance of becoming self-sufficient. They will no longer need to pay for clinic visits or medicine due to waterborne illnesses, they will have milk to drink, and they will use manure for their garden. 

This is good work. 

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 annual giving, please keep us in mind so we can continue our good work into 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.