NEST Zimbabwe Initiative - Mudzi and Zimunya
Food is scarce but the Mudzi
Orphan Trust provides a loving
home for these children
Orphan Trust provides a loving
home for these children
The basic structure of the
eco-dome can be seen in place
here. Clay applied over the coils
finish the home and protect the
tubing coils.
eco-dome can be seen in place
here. Clay applied over the coils
finish the home and protect the
tubing coils.
NEST Projects
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Recent success by NEST in Zimbabwe
In late 2007 NEST completed the construction of two homes and a community building for
orphans in Mudzi in N. E. Zimbabwe. Esteri and John Kawiwi who run the Mudzi Trust are
over 70 and 80 years old respectively and for 5 years they have been taking in orphans from
the surrounding community in the Mudzi District. Today they care for nearly 40 orphans.
A simple place to call home
Their request to NEST was for help with an urgent need for additional better accommodation
to provide adequate sleeping facilities for the children. 40 orphans ranging in ages from 5 to
18 live on site at the homestead.
Getting the project off the ground
Given the well-known problems inside Zimbabwe, getting the project moving was a huge
challenge requiring months of planning. Our team arrived with three goals:
1. Building two eco-dome units for the children at the Mudzi Trust. These double the existing
sleeping accommodation.
2. To build a larger resource centre in Zimunya to benefit over 250 orphans and their
communities through the provision of food, clothing, identifying foster carers, and generally
improving the welfare of orphans attending the adjoining school. This is in partnership with
‘Youth with a Vision’ - a grassroots, community organization, created by Pastor Boniface
Mutudza and sustained with the help of his Evangelical Community Church.
3. Training: To use the opportunity provided by the NEST trainer in constructing the eco-
domes, to train on site up to 20 local people in eco-dome building techniques.
A fantastic effort by the whole community
NEST provided two Trainers, Roy Michel and Lajos Mascar, who co-ordinated the construction
of the 3 buildings, and mobilized and trained volunteer teams from the communities. These
teams participated in the construction, and thus acquired initial training in the basics of the
technique.
NEST worked with 2 local Zimbabwean partners:
Environment Africa, who provided tremendous logistical and manpower support.
Tenderera Trust, a Zimbabwean charity, who contributed to the overall co-ordination.
The partners allowed the trust to to expand the goals of these initial projects, building homes
and houses with communities, strengthening their capacity to care for their orphaned and
vulnerable children.
Hard physical work with only the resources of the community
We started work on a Sunday, with a team of 14 local volunteer 'builders'and volunteers from
environment Africa and local churches. Each day,teams of about 15 to 20 women from
different villages, dug up the sand,and transported it to the site in tins on their heads. Some
of the builders from this region where people are ground down by poverty and lack of food
walked long distances to the site every morning.
Around two weeks to build
There were many challenges to overcome; not least that water had to be dug from a dry
riverbed 4 kilometres away and transported to the site. But with enthusiastic supporters,
progress was rapid – as can be the case with the efficient eco-dome building technique.
The team built 2 eco-domes and a large centre in 7 days and 8 days respectively.
Results to be proud of
The construction of these buildings answers the most pressing and basic need of home and
shelter for these children, and a base from which the community can mobilize for their care.
Direct aid into this marginalized community helps to strengthen local initiatives in providing
care for their growing numbers of orphans.
Benefits beyond the buildings
NEST’s contribution to this project went far beyond the building of 2 Eco-domes and a
Resource Centre - and passing on the building skills. In both places, the NEST team really
mobilised the communities through their commitment and enthusiasm, building great team
spirit amongst the builders, and knitting these ravaged communities together through the
common purpose of constructing these amazing buildings for the children.
Secondly it is an inescapable fact that the stigma attached to hiv/aids, unfortunately badly
affects the orphans left behind. They are ostracized by both peers and other adults, as being
possibly ‘infectious’. At Mudzi, where the children participated, the building project became
an expression of great love and concern for them, raising their status in the community by
demonstrating that they were special.
In late 2007 NEST completed the construction of two homes and a community building for
orphans in Mudzi in N. E. Zimbabwe. Esteri and John Kawiwi who run the Mudzi Trust are
over 70 and 80 years old respectively and for 5 years they have been taking in orphans from
the surrounding community in the Mudzi District. Today they care for nearly 40 orphans.
A simple place to call home
Their request to NEST was for help with an urgent need for additional better accommodation
to provide adequate sleeping facilities for the children. 40 orphans ranging in ages from 5 to
18 live on site at the homestead.
Getting the project off the ground
Given the well-known problems inside Zimbabwe, getting the project moving was a huge
challenge requiring months of planning. Our team arrived with three goals:
1. Building two eco-dome units for the children at the Mudzi Trust. These double the existing
sleeping accommodation.
2. To build a larger resource centre in Zimunya to benefit over 250 orphans and their
communities through the provision of food, clothing, identifying foster carers, and generally
improving the welfare of orphans attending the adjoining school. This is in partnership with
‘Youth with a Vision’ - a grassroots, community organization, created by Pastor Boniface
Mutudza and sustained with the help of his Evangelical Community Church.
3. Training: To use the opportunity provided by the NEST trainer in constructing the eco-
domes, to train on site up to 20 local people in eco-dome building techniques.
A fantastic effort by the whole community
NEST provided two Trainers, Roy Michel and Lajos Mascar, who co-ordinated the construction
of the 3 buildings, and mobilized and trained volunteer teams from the communities. These
teams participated in the construction, and thus acquired initial training in the basics of the
technique.
NEST worked with 2 local Zimbabwean partners:
Environment Africa, who provided tremendous logistical and manpower support.
Tenderera Trust, a Zimbabwean charity, who contributed to the overall co-ordination.
The partners allowed the trust to to expand the goals of these initial projects, building homes
and houses with communities, strengthening their capacity to care for their orphaned and
vulnerable children.
Hard physical work with only the resources of the community
We started work on a Sunday, with a team of 14 local volunteer 'builders'and volunteers from
environment Africa and local churches. Each day,teams of about 15 to 20 women from
different villages, dug up the sand,and transported it to the site in tins on their heads. Some
of the builders from this region where people are ground down by poverty and lack of food
walked long distances to the site every morning.
Around two weeks to build
There were many challenges to overcome; not least that water had to be dug from a dry
riverbed 4 kilometres away and transported to the site. But with enthusiastic supporters,
progress was rapid – as can be the case with the efficient eco-dome building technique.
The team built 2 eco-domes and a large centre in 7 days and 8 days respectively.
Results to be proud of
The construction of these buildings answers the most pressing and basic need of home and
shelter for these children, and a base from which the community can mobilize for their care.
Direct aid into this marginalized community helps to strengthen local initiatives in providing
care for their growing numbers of orphans.
Benefits beyond the buildings
NEST’s contribution to this project went far beyond the building of 2 Eco-domes and a
Resource Centre - and passing on the building skills. In both places, the NEST team really
mobilised the communities through their commitment and enthusiasm, building great team
spirit amongst the builders, and knitting these ravaged communities together through the
common purpose of constructing these amazing buildings for the children.
Secondly it is an inescapable fact that the stigma attached to hiv/aids, unfortunately badly
affects the orphans left behind. They are ostracized by both peers and other adults, as being
possibly ‘infectious’. At Mudzi, where the children participated, the building project became
an expression of great love and concern for them, raising their status in the community by
demonstrating that they were special.
Future planning:
NEST is currently raising funds for various projects, one of which involves working with The
African Children’s Choir (www.africanchildrenschoir.com) in the Nkomazi region of South
Africa.
Over half of the inhabitants of Nkomazi are under the age of 19. HIV prevalence is one of the
highest in the world and Nkomazi in particular is experiencing increasing numbers of
orphans and vulnerable children living alone or with elderly grandparents.
Each night dozens of orphans and vulnerable children huddle together on concrete floors
desperate for another nights sleep. Teenagers struggle to comfort their younger siblings,
who do not understand why their parents are gone and they are homeless and hungry. NEST
hopes to raise funding to provide homes for children such as these.
NEST is currently raising funds for various projects, one of which involves working with The
African Children’s Choir (www.africanchildrenschoir.com) in the Nkomazi region of South
Africa.
Over half of the inhabitants of Nkomazi are under the age of 19. HIV prevalence is one of the
highest in the world and Nkomazi in particular is experiencing increasing numbers of
orphans and vulnerable children living alone or with elderly grandparents.
Each night dozens of orphans and vulnerable children huddle together on concrete floors
desperate for another nights sleep. Teenagers struggle to comfort their younger siblings,
who do not understand why their parents are gone and they are homeless and hungry. NEST
hopes to raise funding to provide homes for children such as these.
Children in Chipenge District
cared for by Rev, B. Mutudza.
One ambition is to get them a
school uniform like other
children in their school.
cared for by Rev, B. Mutudza.
One ambition is to get them a
school uniform like other
children in their school.
Temporary frames help support
doors and windows but will be
removed once the building is
complete
doors and windows but will be
removed once the building is
complete
Our goals are modest but
deliver life changing benefits.
Please make a donation to help
us to deliver these projects in
2009
deliver life changing benefits.
Please make a donation to help
us to deliver these projects in
2009
