Latest news :
Donor and volunteer news in 2008

Donors

The Drip Irrigation proposal submitted to Quaker Peace and Social Witness (QPSW) through Milton Keynes Quaker Meeting (April) was successful and £5000GBP was agreed. A further proposal has been made to Consolidated Appeals Process, handled by the Food and Agriculture Organisation. It has been consolidated with four other NGO garden proposals.

Funding has been secured for obtaining a generator from ICCO. The generator has been purchased and delivery will be taken once the maintenance section prepares the housing. URGENT NEED NOW FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR TRANSFORMER AND POLES FOR ELECTRICITY SO WE CAN PUMP WATER AND OPERATE AT FULL CAPACITY!

QPSW's Samathonga feeding programme comes to an end of its 3 year approval cycle. As yet we have not found any alternative funding source and the feeding programme is integral to the relative success of the school.

Samathonga Primary School feeding programme (QPSW)

A charity called Friends of Hlekweni has been set up in the UK and much of the funding raised in the UK is now channeled through the charity. Milton Keynes Quaker Meeting (UK) has supported the setting up of the charity. The most recent newsletter is available on-line.

Find Your Feet (UK) plans to visit Hlekweni at the end of February with a view to re-establishing relations (a former donor), having a particular interest in organic agriculture.

Volunteers

We were joined in February by two South African volunteers: Bethabile Madonsela and Shirley Sifunda. They focused our attention on gender issues and challenged our staff � especially the men! Nancy Frankel Brown came in April and assisted us in administration and recruiting an administrator, Shingirai Madaka, who consequently joined us in May.

Steve Brooks (Friends Meeting of Washington DC) came in October for 3 weeks, bringing gifts (clothing, laptop, educational materials, cycle parts, medications, etc.) as well as a donation of $2,200US from himself and FMW members. Since his return, he has started raising funds and awareness, and networking with other friends of Hlekweni with the view of establishing a funding centre in the US. He is also working on fundraising for purchase of textbooks for Samathonga Primary School.

Steve Brooks visits Gwanda with Miclas and Ishmael

Three UK Quakers are making return visits to Hlekweni in February 2009. Hazel-Ann Morris is continuing her art workshops at Samathonga school with all the students, and the trainee teachers, and 'afterschool' arts and crafts activities in Hlekweni for children and community members/trainees. Dr. Maggie Coats is assisting with trainer development, and preparation for accreditation. Lee Taylor is clerk to the Trustees of Friends of Hlekweni, and is working with Hlekweni Trustees and Staff on the support need in the short and medium term, and on preparing reports and communications for donors especially in the UK.