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The Story:
Five years ago, I was hanging out with some friends in Wilmington, NC. It was there, at a local coffee shop, that we begin to dream of this thing we call Help End Local Poverty. Our question was simple: How can we help end local poverty wherever poverty exists? How do we partner with local leaders across the globe and help them end poverty where ever they live?
Like many dreams, life got busy and we simply did not take time to do what was necessary to launch this initiative. In the meantime, my friend Steven moved to Cape Town, SA and he began to do development work with local African leaders across the continent. He encouraged me to come and experience this thing called "extreme poverty" at first-hand. I knew if I went I would be wrecked. more...
The Vision:
Our desire is to create a unique relationships with churches, individuals and businesses in the West to connect and partner to help end local poverty in Marondera, Zimbabwe. Through the proceeds of this campaign and in partnership with Steven and Amy we desire to establish a long-term sustainable plan that focuses on development work that will have a significant local impact in Marondera, Zimbabwe. Please click here to see specifics and how you can get involved.
If you want to learn more about who we are, please visit our main website.
The Zimbabwean Reality:
- Zimbabwe has over 1.1 million AIDS orphans - the highest proportion of AIDS orphans in the world.
- Life expectancy for Zimbabwean women - the primary caregivers to children - has plunged to just 34 years - the lowest life expectancy in the world.
- Roughly 1/5 of Zimbabwe's adult population is HIV+, and another Zimbabwean is infected with the virus that causes AIDS every three minutes.
- Between 2002 and 2006, the population of Zimbabwe is estimated to have decreased by 4 million.
- A quotation for the cost of goods or services in Zimbabwe is generally valid for five hours as prices rise two to three times daily. Inflation has been measured at 100,000% by the end of 2007.