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In 2016, the foundation Help with a plan of the children's aid organization Plan International approached Michael Hoppe to ask whether he would like to contribute his expertise, especially in the area of income-generating measures, to a joint project in Zimbabwe.

He then combined his trip to Namibia in November 2016 with a visit to the planned project area. The commitment of the people, who teach children with the simplest means, often without protective buildings, moved him deeply and encouraged him to take the next step into a new African country.

Here, children in the Mutare and Mutasa regions of Zimbabwe are in no different situation than children once were in the project area of Okakarara in Namibia.

Kindergartens and schools, especially in rural areas, are far from the children's homes, poorly equipped, and the teachers are poorly trained. Due to the ongoing drought period in Zimbabwe, the situation has worsened further, as for parents securing food is more important than educating and supporting their children. Underdevelopment and malnutrition as well as high unemployment characterize these regions.

A warm meal, safe, child-friendly play and learning, as well as preparation for a self-determined life – we want to make this possible for children in Zimbabwe too!

More than 1,500 small children will benefit from our joint commitment in this region over a project period of 3 years, and indirectly even more than 12,500 children.

Planned are

1. the construction of four so-called ECCD (Early Childhood Care & Development) centers for children aged 3-4 years
2. the strengthening of the economic situation in the households of the communities through the establishment of savings groups, through support for income-generating measures such as fish ponds and grain mills, and through training in agricultural cultivation methods
3. the improvement of the nutrition and health situation in the planned ECCD centers in Mutasa and Mutare through the establishment of vegetable gardens, training of caregivers in the maintenance of the gardens, as well as awareness-raising measures on hygiene and health.

As with most other stepsprojects, we have an committed partner at our side.

The Foundation Help with a plan of the children's aid organization Plan International now supports us in our important step into a second project country.

Also for Plan International self-help is at the heart of their activities. But for us, the over 80 years of experience of this aid organization in more than 70 countries around the world is especially valuable. We do not have to start from scratch when it comes, for example, to contacts with government institutions and local communities. Here we are supported not only by detailed knowledge of local structures but also by local staff in the project team from Plan International enormously, and we can tackle and accompany the special challenges together.

We are pleased that we can contribute our knowledge and experience, especially from income-generating measures, to the collaboration with the Stiftung Hilfe mit Plan in Zimbabwe. And last but not least, this collaboration means an increase in know-how for us, which can also be fruitfully applied in our projects in Namibia. Because of course things will continue in Namibia with steps for children as before – we will continue the existing projects and new partnerships will emerge.

Photos © Plan International

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