Langley Fundamental students have begun their annual coin drive to support the library at Gandidzanwa school, Langley Fundamental’s sister school in Zimbabwe. Today the students attended an assembly to kick off the coin drive. If you missed the assembly you can view the powerpoint and video shown below.

PDF version of the Powerpoint slide show —> Gandidzanwa – Assembly May 2014

Video overview of Gandidzanwa school

Over 60 women gathered June 4 in the backyard of Fort Langley’s Tracycakes Bakery Cafe to find out how they could support Zimbabwe’s women and children.  The goal of the event was to raise funds for Hear Africa’s Women Empowerment Fund and to assist families caring for orphans.

Both women and children face tremendous hardships in Zimbabwe: women account for 60 percent of country’s 1.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS while there are well over 1 million orphans.

Winnie Zimbiti, a Canadian who grew up in Zimbabwe, shared her personal story of reaching out to others.  Zimbiti, talked about how her father always encouraged his 11 children to ‘do their part’ in assisting others, wherever and whenever they could.  She displayed an old frying pan that had been given to her when she moved to Canada, a reminder, she says, that no matter how small, an act of giving can be meaningful and helpful to someone.

Zimbiti and her niece Lorraine also gave the women insight into how Zimbabweans view extended family.  Aunts and uncles are seen as parents while cousins are akin to siblings.  Lorraine spoke about an episode she experienced at school: she saw that someone whom she had assumed to be her brother had a different surname to hers.  When she inquired about it she was informed that he was her cousin, not her brother!  Within this context family is expected to look after orphans if parents pass away.  The sad reality is that many families are being overwhelmed by the sheer number of orphans in the country and are struggling to take care of them.

The event raised $5,670.  Watch a Hear Africa video detailing the plight of three Zimbabwean women:

The Hear Africa Foundation and the Langley Fundamental Elementary School (a public school in Langley, BC), are excited about the partnership that has started with a public school in rural Zimbabwe, called Gandidzanwa Primary School.

On Thursday, April 7^th, 2011the children at Langley Fundamental, attended an assembly where they learned a little bit about Zimbabwe, saw videos of the school and most of all, had the chance to see how children, just like them, were trying to learn in a horrific environment.  They were challenged with a coin drive, the following week.  By the fourth day of the coin drive (Thursday), the goal of $10,000, to build 2 classrooms & and library had already been reached!  That day, the children asked if the coin drive could be extended to Monday, April 18^th, because they had other “ventures” they wanted to do on the week-end.  On Monday we did our final count and we have exceeded $18,000.00!!! 

This amazing result could only have been accomplished through the energy of students & parents, working together.  We collected “stories” from the students, asking what they did to raise money & what motivated them to do so.  Here are some of the responses…

• I earned all my money by cleaning, washing & gardening.  For every hour I worked I would get $5 and my parents would match it for extra donation.  We all did our part ‘cause we knew it was for a good cause.  (Grade 2)
• I raised $75 for Zimbabwe school and I sold 75 cups of lemonade.   (Grade 2)
• I felt for the Gandidzanwa School because they are so poor, they don’t have any furniture, some classes are held outside and some in, like, chicken coops.  The children don’t even have shoes.  Just thinking about the poor children from Zimbabwe makes all my little troubles go away and also urges me to help Gandidzanwa School.  (Grade 2)
• Me and my friend stood outside Canadian Tire for 3 hours with only a sign and a box, but ended up raising $155!  (Grade 4)
• I raised money for Zimbabwe because the children in the Gandidzanwa school deserve a classroom that is stable and strong.  They also would need a library for learning how to read.  Children need education to get far in life (Grade 4)
• My friend and I went door to door, but just around the block to be safe…we raised one hundred & seventy seven dollars!!  (Grade 4)
• Me and my dad built 22 bird houses for chickadees!!  I sold the bird houses at school…(Grade 1)

The Langley Times also did a follow up story you can read here:

LFES students shine in coin drive for Zimbabwe school