SUNNYVALLEY PLOTS, ZIMBABWE

FUNDED JULY 26,  2023

Local Water Source – a tiny hand-dug well in the rocks

The current water situation in Sunnyvalley Plots is that they have no water. There is no access to clean water in the area and no electricity. The local water source is a small stream with a shallow well. The area is very rocky and difficult for people to navigate. There are 3 private boreholes around the area, but only one person will share their water with the local families. It is a 1-2 km walk to this person’s house. People can come to take water 2 times a week at a certain time of day. Not all of the local residents get water from this one person’s private borehole all the time; they also go to the local water source. The surface water is not clean and has a milky color.

Common water related illnesses are diarrhea and worms.  Cholera, malaria, and typhoid are also common.  Currently, cholera is on the rise.  The Dora region is one of the 17 hot zones considered severely [hit] with cases rising.  An outbreak began in February.  Now in July, 320 cases/week are being reported.  Feb through May had 961 cases reported, and July alone has had 1,280 cases.  There is a 2.6% death rate.

Drought is another problem. This is the fourth year of drought conditions.  Zimbabwe has not been receiving normal rainfall, especially in the Dora region.  The health services director of Harare, (not our project area, but to give you an overview) reported that cholera patients come too late for treatment, there is a lack of experienced health staff for diagnosis, and more importantly, water rationing in the city could be driving the rise in suspected cases. These conditions are amplified in rural areas.

This $8,000 project includes drilling, a solar pump, and two raised towers with two 5 KLiter storage tanks.  One tank will supply the Training Center, and the other will supply the community and also be used for focused irrigation of the model FGW crops.

The opening in the rocks is so small!

A woman patiently fills her water jug.

This well project is [our] fourth in the country of Zimbabwe.  It is the second one that we are doing with our ministry partner, Oni Mususa.  This location is approximately 50 km from the first well project done with Oni, which has been highly successful, especially during the ongoing drought conditions in the country.  We have been working in Zimbabwe with Oni since 2015, with Heaven’s Family’s sister ministry, Farming God’s Way. We do not do projects unless we have formed an ongoing partnership with a good track record of accountability with any ministry partner involved in any Safe Water Ministry project.  We require ‘before’ marker photos of where the well will be drilled.  We collect pertinent details that describe the need and collect completion reports, photos, and testimonies.

For payment, it depends on the project as to who receives the funds.  We do not pay in full upfront for projects.  Usually, 60% is paid at the commencement, and the balance upon completion.  Sometimes we send the funds to the partner, who then pays the driller.  Sometimes we send the money directly to the driller.  In this case, we will send the funds to our partner and they will pay the driller.  We try to make sure of confirmation that the driller will arrive on schedule because sometimes drilling gets delayed.  We would rather be in control of the funds rather than the drilling companies.

The woman carefully balances water on her head to take it home.

As a part of our process, we require all of our ministry partners to agree to prepare for and manage any future maintenance on the well. It is very important that the local people know that this is ‘their’ well. When they know they have ownership they will work to take care of it best they can. For this project, the FGW Training Center group has agreed to take care of the needed maintenance of the deep well in the future. Any donations will be welcomed from the community, but the community will now be required to actually pay for any future repairs.

Providing a deep well will bring huge relief to the local people who have been suffering with no water.  The people will have water for drinking, cooking, and bathing.  They will have better health.  The kids will be able to spend less time fetching water and focus on school.  The FGW training site will have water available to those who come to train, and water available for irrigation of the FGW training plots.  The crops will help to support the training center, and also support needy families, especially suffering in drought conditions.  Currently, the country is in its fourth year of drought conditions, and training will be able to go  on year-round, whether there is drought or not.  Crops will grow with irrigation, whether there is rain or not.  The local people will have better health and students will be able to take clean water home to their houses where they do not have clean water.  Food will be grown for needy families and it will support the center.

The water will be free to all the local people of the village.  Water use will be prioritized for daily drinking water over using it for irrigation (scheduled for 2x/week when no rain.)

Filling a large container with a small dipping jug takes so long.

We have been working with our ministry partners, Oni and Wendy, for 7-8 years here.  Many people have benefited from their dedicated ministry work and the kingdom-building work they are called to since 15 years ago. These are the types of ministry work they do.

FGW – Farming God’s Way is the first ministry here, a food-growing ministry that includes biblically-based discipleship training.  There is Bible study, fellowship, working together, helping others who have problems, and sharing their excess with the elderly and destitute.

Vocational Training School – Another ministry to be onsite is vocational training directed by Wendy, Oni’s wife.  She has directed this program since 2009, a Christian vocational training school for destitute women and single moms. The courses are Cross Stitch, which is learning to work on commercial sewing machines and tailoring, and The Masters Kitchen, which is learning commercial cooking training.  These ladies who attend are from the slum and garbage dump in Mutare 13  km away.  They also work with the Makwasa School of the Deaf teaching FGW. (They both know sign language.)  They will serve deaf students who will come to learn the training as they grow older from the Deaf School.

DMM – (Disciple Making Movements) training and Bible studies.  Anyone who is a  part of FGW or the vocational school partakes in the DMM training sessions. Training will go on no matter if it rains or not.  Disciple-making is happening, too. There is fruit.  People now work together;  they help each other. The FGW discipleship groups are called “God’s Love Groups.” The love of the Lord is being demonstrated here.

Access to clean water is so important