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 The
following program was developed and implemented in cooperation with Seed
Programs Inc. and by the United Church of Christ Wider Church Ministries
(UCC) and the Christian Church Disciples of Christ (DC). UCC and DC
united their money and resources to ensure the success of this
particular program. In the first two years of the program seed has been
distributed in Zimbabwe by United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe as well
as the Associated Churches of Christ in Zimbabwe to some 20,000 families
plus 12 schools. Last year, the fourth year of the program, 352,000
packets of seed were distributed.
Goal
The aim of the project proposal is to help in the fight against hunger
and preach to the community in deed.
Justification
 The
families, communities, schools and groups need help. They lack
start-ups. Hunger continues to erode their lives hence they become
poorer and poorer. They are even failing to send children to school.
Begging takes place as a last resort. It does not occur because of
laziness but out of not having the means of survival.
Program Description
Unemployment is estimated at 50-60% in Zimbabwe. Many people need food
but do not have money to buy it, much less money to buy good seed for
growing food. The United Church of Christ Wider Church Ministries and
the Christian Church Disciples of Christ provided financial support
enabling Seed Programs Inc. to ship the United Church of Christ in
Zimbabwe (UCCZ) 175,000 packets in 2000, 192,000 packets in 2001, 252,000 packets in 2002,
and 352,000 packets in 2003. Plans are now being made for a shipment in the
fall of 2004 for planting in 2005. Seed distribution was made by the
Church organization. The assortment of seed sent included garden beans,
beet, broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrot, lettuce, mustard, okra,
onion, peppers, radish, spinach, tomato and watermelon. The diet of poor
people is often heavy in carbohydrates, but lacks many essential
vitamins and minerals. Vegetables grown with this seed helped fill this
need, especially for children, where the need is the greatest.
Results
Some excerpts contained in reports from Zimbabwe follow:
" ... we gave seed to over 20,000
families who had nothing to start their lives moving again. The
program benefited individuals, schools and clinics. Some beneficiaries
are those people who have the dreaded disease HIV/AIDS who do not have
enough food. The seed helped them to grow their own vegetables which
are most needed in their bodies."
"... the seed program was a real success story which has improved a
lot of lives in the remotest areas of our country. People are
appreciating and are very grateful."
".... Most people are reporting some bumper harvests of varieties
such as beetroot, carrots, tomatoes, cabbages and lettuce. Onions are
still growing."
"... Most people are now enjoying the harvest of tomatoes and
beans. As a result of this some women brought part of the harvest to
church as an offering of thanksgiving."
"…We have now distributed all
the seed to our 47 churches, 12 schools, one orphanage and Trinity
college which deals in horticulture. People are happy because without
the seed during this season they would be suffering from malnutrition
but they have got enough vegetables to feed their families."
"...Our country has been hit hard by drought which since 2000 there
has never been enough food for the people. We thank you for being
there for us when the situation was so critical and unbearable."
"....Thank you again, for coming to our rescue at this time. All
the people who receive these seeds are so grateful that you are doing
this wonderful job to save the lives of strangers. We are now proud to
have people who are surviving on vegetables rather than roots."
"...The drought situation in this country is still on so we are
going to face a lot of starvation to a lot of people because people
cannot get maize and the rains are falling sparingly. So we just hope
those who will grow the vegetables will survive as I mentioned earlier
on that some people are surviving on boiled vegetables only without
sadza, our main staple food and then drink a lot of water. People now
cannot afford to have three decent meals a day. Life has become a
nightmare."
HIV / AIDS
"This disease has run havoc in our communities. We have introduced
some care givers in communities who go around helping the affected and
give support. These are the people teach and help them to grow their own
vegetables and enhance their health through some nutrients which come
from the vegetables. They have also benefited from the seed program and
we are very proud of the development. They are also able to get exercise
from the actual growing of vegetables."
Summary
"The situation we are talking about cannot be understood by a person
who has never experienced it but I am sure by your giving us the seed
means you have the feeling for it Thank you again, for coming to our
rescue at this time. All the people who receive these seeds are so
grateful that you are doing this wonderful job to save the lives of
strangers."
Future Program
The seed program has helped countless people in Zimbabwe who are
hungry, malnourished, and many, even on the verge of starvation. UCC, DC
and SPI are committed to continue helping hungry families in Zimbabwe to
help feed themselves through vegetable garden programs. |
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