Project Bulawayo

PROJECT BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE

By Doug Ante

*Doug Ante has made 4 trips to Zimbabwe; 3 at his own expense and one on a

"New Opportunities Grant" in 1999. -this has resulted in a total of 15 weeks of

research and travel before this grant and volunteer activity takes place.

*A working committee of Rotarians has been established in Bulawayo with

representation from all 4 clubs in that city (Bulawayo, Bulawayo S., Matopos &

Belmont). The principal sponsor is the Matopos Club (with 2 R.I. matching grants

and the Belmont Club sponsoring the third R.I. Grant. 12-14 members of these 4

clubs comprise the committee under the excellent chairmanship of Assistant

Governor Phil Whitehead.

*Doug Ante is in weekly, sometimes daily contact with the chair of this committee via

E-mail.

*He is also in contact with Headmasters/mistress of the 6 principal schools to be

affected by this grant and where the volunteers will be working.

*These rural schools receive limited government funding. Classrooms are stark rooms;

poorly outfitted and often with no supplies, textbooks or even classroom furniture.

They function at a bare existence level by our standards and morale is often low.

*These poor conditions are sometimes reduced further by natural calamities such as

the 'cyclone' damages of 1999 which have never been repaired to many of these

schools. Hard hit were school classroom roofs.

*The four Bulawayo Rotary Clubs have "adopted" approximately 40 rural schools

outside Bulawayo. Individual Rotarians within these clubs act as liaisons to these

clubs. They make personal trips to the schools with supplies and updates on Rotary

projects based on Matching Grants. This communication is with Headmasters,

teachers and parent groups.

*The basic philosophy that I have been taught by the Rotarians in Bulawayo is that we

HELP THEM HELP THEMSELVES. Sometimes schools are passed over because

of poor community support where a project could not be sustained after Rotary left.

My criteria for involvement has been:

1. There must be Rotary involvement with the school by the Bulawayo Clubs.

2. There must be a progressive Headmaster/Headmistress.

3. There must be a supportive teaching staff

4. There must be an Active Parent Organization prepared to work alongside Rotary

Volunteers. This is paramount.

*The four Rotary Clubs of Bulawayo are organized and committed to the following

support of the Volunteers who hopefully will be travelling to Zimbabwe in May, June

& July of 2002.

Transportation of supplies and volunteers to the schools

Procurement of all supplies necessary to undertake the jobs on the school sites.

Clearance through customs of the containers of school supplies shipped from

Canada.

4. Dissemination of the contents of these containers throughout this network of

schools.

5. Accommodation for the Canadian & U.S. Rotary Volunteers while in Zimbabwe. -

this includes within Bulawayo and at the 6 rural schools.

Welcome receptions for Volunteers, weekend fellowship gatherings and 'mini'

Safari trips.

Fuel procurement (stockpiling) if shortages prevail to assure the mobility of the

Group.

ACTIVITIES OF VOLUNTEERS

There were 18 original volunteers (plus team leader Doug Ante) plus some wives and two Interact Students. With the one year delay in the trip due to the delayed funding some volunteers have had to drop out but other have indicated an interest. We are waiting for acceptance of the 3 grant requests before the R.I. Foundation Directors (which is presently held up pending clarification of the two Zimbabwean Rotary Clubs status regarding payment of R.I. Dues). Final numbers of Volunteers seeking funding will then be presented - I suspect similar numbers.

This group includes a wide range of skills (just like the classification system in Rotary). They includes teachers, administrators, businessmen & women, medical doctors, nurses, mechanics, general contractors, lawyers, etc.

Some will do minor teaching duties over & above the main tasks of the group.

Medical personnel will conduct some clinics where practical and allowed. All the wives joining the group are totally committed to working alongside Rotarians.

This group of Rotarians has been meeting for over a year now on a monthly basis for Dinner and updates on the project. There is a remarkable comradery amongst them already. The travel distance to bring all of them together is around 12 hours, including a ferry trip, but this is happening. They have had numerous setback, but are determined and see the goal and are not deterred.

This group of volunteers primary purpose is Volunteer Work at 6 specific schools outlines in the Synopses. -each group of volunteers (approximately 6 in each group) come for just over a month. -they work at two schools. One is close to Bulawayo (within 30-40kilometers) and they will commute daily, living in Bulawayo in a 'western style house' as a transition. This will take the first two weeks. -during the second half of their volunteer work, they will live and work further afield, at a truly 'rural' school sometime 150-200 km into the bush. They will eat and sleep with the locals.

GRANT 2000.093 - SILOZWE SECONDARY SCHOOL

This is Rtn. Doug Ante's first contact school and where the 'seed' for this project started.

Work here includes roof repair to a science classroom destroyed in the

1999 cyclone.

* Plumbing of 6 teacher cottages where they live, some with their families.

Note: The New Opportunities Grant of 1999 supplies this school with piped

water to the outside of each building at the school. Now we will plumb in a sink,

toilet and shower to each unit.

* Fencing of the school property, including a field for milk cows and cattle. Feeding

programs for children are an important aspect of proper educational conditions as

most children arrive at school hungry and stay hungry all day. School gardens are

a first step on feeding programs.

* Drip irrigation for the school garden which was established in 1999 with Rotary

money.

* Painting and miscellaneous repairs.

GRANT 2000.098 -

THIS IS FOR THE OTHER 5 SCHOOLS THE VOLUNTEERS WILL WORK AT

* Electfication repairs to certain schools and teacher cottages.

* Plumbing of teacher cottages at one of these schools

* supply of classroom furniture to many of these schools.

NOTE: This furniture is built at a facility called ABILITIES in Bulawayo which

is supported, in part, by Rotary and hires Physically and Mentally challenged

adults to build sturdy classroom furniture at competitive prices.

It is a WIN-WIN situation to purchase supplies here.

* Cement work for classroom floor repairs and other cement repairs.

Often all they need is the cement.

* Building repairs including gutters, floors, roofs, toilets.

* Painting of school buildings.

* Shelving for donated books -creation of school libraries

* Sports field enhancement & supply of equipment such as soccer balls, goal posts.

* The beneficiaries will work alongside the Rotary Volunteers. This has been insisted upon for any school to be considered in this grant program. -often their expertise is better than ours - they just need the supplies to get the job done. -each school has been visited numerous times by local Rotarians and Doug Ante to assure that their requested needs are prioritised, necessary and do-able. -all jobs have been quoted for material and requoted (since the delay of a complete year) as there is high inflation in Zimbabwe. Fortunately, the North American dollars have kept pace, or even kept ahead of inflation so all projects are within budgets established.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

* The committee of Rotarians in Bulawayo from the 4 clubs has been meeting

regularly for over a year. Contact with these clubs through Doug Ante has been

ongoing for over 4 years.

* Doug Ante has made 4 trips in total. The last two trips were specifically to

organize this trip, assure Volunteer members' safety. He is travelling back to

Bulawayo from Dec 02 - Dec 20 of this year to finalize plans.

* During the actual project which is tentatively planned for May, June & July

of 2002, Doug Ante will arrive two weeks early to help with final planning and

stay two weeks after the final group leaves to clean up any unfinished business

and make sure final reports are done.

ANTICIPATED RESULTS

* Part of the reason for the large size of this project came about because of the

Following:

The high profile of project coordinator Doug Ante in District 5020 as former Foundation Chair and Assistant Governor. He was/is a frequent guest speaker at Rotary functions and has 'spread the word' about the Foundation and his work in Africa.

Doug saw the opportunity and felt the desire of many Rotarians to embrace a Matching Grant project that expanded the scope of many such project to include 'ordinary' Rotarians who felt being a Rotary Volunteer meant very specific talents, usually in the medical field. The response to this project was overwhelming. The only reason the numbers have been kept to around 18 is due to costs and the reality of travel when the moment of decision is faced.

With this large group of volunteers there will be a tremendous spin-off of future volunteer activity, World Community Service activity, Matching Grant applications. Donations to the Foundation will benefit. This group already has over $50,000 in Canadian funds ready to put into this project. It has over 1.5 Million in school supplies collected, half of which is already in Zimbabwe and being distributed as we speak, and a full container load of medical supplies ready to ship when funding for the shipping costs is found.

District 5020 is already a major supporter of the Rotary Foundation and has many 3H projects to its credit. Donations to the Foundation, which are in dire need as the demand grows, will only grow with further education and involvement of the membership. The 'snowball' effect of this group going to Zimbabwe and then moving onward and outward with their own projects can only enhance the future of our Foundation.

Travel to the rural schools, discovering their 'plight' in which our society has "everything" and they have "nothing" was a catalyst to the growth of this project from one school to six and the subsequent inclusion of other schools where no actual manual work will take place, but materials will be purchased for implementation by local parent committees

Discovery of the network of 4 Rotary Clubs and the existing 'adoption' of over 40 schools made this project a natural.

Meetings with the leadership of these clubs convinced me that it was do-able

Established 6 schools who best met our criteria of need and ability to 'help them help themselves'. They also met the criteria of OR.I. and CO.OR.CO.I.D.

6 schools does not spread our volunteers too thin.

The Short, Medium & Long Term Results of these projects are well

Outlined in the Synopsis for each Grant. I would encourage the reader to access them there.

SUSTAINABILITY

* These Zimbabwean teachers, students and villagers are amazingly skilled and

resilient people. They are as patient as any peoples of the earth I have witnessed.

They are also extremely versatile and inventive. As they say, "we will find a

way". The Rotarians exemplify these qualities as well.

This is a country presently in political and economic turmoil. But the survival

instincts of its citizens is humbling to me. I do not face such adversity and

watch in awe as these citizens conduct their day to day tasks. They will sustain

anything we offer in the way of physical goods, expertise or moral support.

What they lack, in most cases, is the money to purchase the supplies.

Our purchases centre primarily on very durable goods such as wire fencing, sturdy

classroom furniture, re-roofing materials, plumbing, paint, etc.

Specifically - the brick maker is a basic machine, it just speeds up production

and is very easy to operate or repair. It will be placed in as major 'feeder' school

with access to tradesmen to run it, repair it.

- Sewing machines. Most of these are hand driven, basic units. They are

purchased in Bulawayo, can be repaired there, and will be in the hands of home-

economics teachers trained in their usage. One group, at Matopos Primary, who

will be recipients of these machines, has set up a sewing cooperative to produce

school uniforms in anticipation of us arriving with the machines. They have

elected a board, established membership dues, monthly fees, attendance

requirements and annual profit sharing.. This will be a remarkable, sustainable

cottage industry filling a real need a reasonably priced school uniforms and at

the same time providing a modest income to around 40 young mothers, most of

whom are single mothers. A local teacher at the school sponsors and group and

provides them space. A local Rotarian's wife (they have a lodge close by)

overseas the cooperative. A Bulawayo Rotarian who owns/runs a Ladies Apparel

Factory (worldwide distribution) supplies wholesale cloth, buttons, zippers etc.

- The lens machine for the Council for the Blind. This will be a second identical

unit to keep up with the demand. It is also back-up if one machine is 'down'.

They come from South Africa so can be returned for repairs easily. The man who

operates it is fully trained and he has now trained two assistants. Doug Ante has

seen this operation for himself and was most impressed with this professional

operation.

* The individuals who will be recipients of this volunteer work and grants are the

'forgotten people' in this society. They are in desolate rural areas, mostly with no

electricity, no running water, suspect water supplies, and subsistence

agriculture. They frequently exist on what they can grow and cash of around

$30.00 Cdn. monthly. The presence of Rotary in these villages and schools

creates hope and community spirit. Our volunteerism spins off, through

example, to their participation. Often this is done through overwhelming effort

and sacrifice on their part in an effort to participate. They know education is

a / the key to their children's future and will sacrifice much to see this happen.

Many communities have built their own schools, no longer waiting for promised

government schools.

What they now need is a little help outfitting these schools and creating an

environment where teachers can function professionally and children can learn in

enhanced conditions. That's where Rotary has a role to play.

And there is no greater need than now. The incidents of violence should not

deter us from travelling there. These incidents are isolated and almost totally in

another sector of this country, hundreds of kilometres to the north-east.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

* This entire project has minimal environmental impact. I can not think of one

function that requires a study or consideration. Doug Ante has been on site at

these schools up to four times. All sites were established years ago and are

functioning as schools now. They all meet the standards to their administrations.

* Our work is primarily repairs to existing sites, fencing, painting, and supply of

classroom furniture. We will not be disturbing / impacting the local environment.

* We are not near fragile or valued sites.

* Waste management is not a part of our project other than some plumbing where

waste water will be handled through septic fields already established and meeting

local codes.

* Waterways and erosion concerns do not apply

* Environmental ethics are not a factor

* Environmental awareness programs are not deemed applicable.

If more information regarding environmental impact is required, please advise.

I trust this outline is complete and outlines the intent of the program/grant/volunteer quest to 'touch a few lives' in and around Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Doug Ante has made it a life long commitment. The volunteers are totally behind this project. It has widespread support in District 5020 with hundreds of individual Rotarians, the District itself ( over and above District Matching Grants), over 25 Clubs and dozens of private citizens and corporations supporting it with funds and goods in kind. Two surgical glove manufacturers in Canada donated 1,000,000 pair of surgical gloves for aids workers just with a single letter of request!

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON TEAM LEADER - RTN. DOUG ANTE

*Rotarian since 1978

*Comox Club President-1982

*District 5020 Foundation Chair for 6 years, on committee for over a decade

*3 years District Assistant Governor (at start of this new office)

*Multiple Paul Harris Fellow

*Benefactor

*Major Gift Donor

*Recipient of R.I. "Citation for Meritorious Service"

*Recipient of R.I. Foundation "New Opportunities Grant" in 1999 (Funds used in

Zimbabwe)

-spent 5 weeks touring rural school around Bulawayo in Zimbabwe

disseminating $42,000 worth of school supplies including 28,000 pens.

-taught briefly at one school - Silozwe Secondary School

-made contact with the 4 Bulawayo Rotary Clubs and established individual contacts and friendships.

*Former School Teacher -1968-1977 - taught High School History/Geography in

Comox, B.C.

*Business owner since 1978 until the present.

-Own and manage a water related business (The Pump House) which

retails/wholesales pumps, water systems, water treatment equipment, irrigation,

swimming pools and hot tubs.

-6000 sq. ft. operation with staff of 10-16 seasonally.