ZIMBABWE GLOBAL GRANT REPORT

Posted by Carolyn Schrader (Denver Mile High) schrader407@gmail.com 
 
 
Community Empowerment
Mufakose Area of Harare, Zimbabwe
 
The Rotary 3H Grant, Community Empowerment in Zimbabwe, came to a close in June 2013 after four years of business and computer training.  Through this Health, Hunger and Humanity Grant, more than 5,000 people from the high-density suburbs around Harare were trained, creating over 200 Self Help Groups (SHGs) and 24 computer-oriented Youth Corners.  The most significant impact of the training was an attitude change in the participants, a sense of confidence and competence that transformed themselves and their communities.
 
But the participants asked for more — additional training at a higher level, more computer training and dedicated computers for the women.  Their recommendations were the basis for the Global Grant for Advanced Training in Business and Computer Skills that began in 2014, which continued the partnership of the Rotary Clubs of Highlands in Zimbabwe and Denver Mile High.  This new Grant ended with a rousing celebration in Harare in October 2015, where many of the participants received their graduation certificates.
 
Many Clubs in District 5450 have supported our work in the Harare area for years.  Without that support we could not have reached our goal of having a sustainable impact in these communities.
 
 
Achievements
By any measure the Grant was a success.  The Grant trained 460 participants in advanced business and computer skills, with special training on navigating the loan situation in Zimbabwe.  Twelve computers and printers were purchased and distributed to secure sites in the communities for the use of the grant participants.  (At other times, the computers were available for the 3H participants to use.)
 
The participants were exuberant in their appreciation for the training.  They displayed a strong interest in continuing to learn and apply their newly acquired knowledge to their businesses.  All the participants indicated that the training from this Grant improved both their business and computer skills. Using role-playing and other interactive exercises, they learned to deal effectively with practical issues and they took advantage of the computer access to manage their business finances. The participants proudly displayed their certificates at graduation ceremonies.  A number of the women were able to get jobs as a result of having the certificates to prove their proficiency with the computer.
 
The two Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that provided the training were from the communities and all the trainers had been participants in the 3H Grant.  This itself was a significant economic benefit within the Harare communities.  More importantly, the NGOs and trainers had a clear understanding of the material, presented it well and were able to modify their approach based on the participants’ level of knowledge. They also had a strong commitment to make this project succeed.  The effect of their commitment was seen in the participants’ level of involvement and learning. 
 
To be successful, the project also needed the support of the City Government.  Rotary is the only organization that has visibly and continuously provided development training in these communities.  That has resulted in an excellent relationship with the local government, which enabled the project to use public spaces for training, the Computer Corners, and celebrations.  The project’s NGOs also did much to maintain this relationship.
 
Highlands, the Host Rotary Club, actively participated in and managed the project, including presenting some focused business trainings.  They organized both the opening ceremony and closing celebration for the project.  These are significant events for the participants and help identify Rotary locally as committed to working with the communities.  The closing ceremony included participation by the Mayor and a number of other local government officials.
 
Rotary International Honor
In October, Stella Dongo, the Highlands Rotarian who lead both the 3H and the subsequent Global Grant, was named as one of Rotary International’s Six Global Women of Action.  This new award recognized Stella’s commitment to the ongoing training in Mufakose and also the significant impact of this work.  RI President Ravindran will visit the communities in March to see firsthand the effects of the Grants. 
 
New Global Grant
Based on the success of these Grants as recognized by RI and the communities, the Highlands and Denver Mile High Rotary Clubs have agreed to expand this training to meet a critical need.  We are beginning to develop a new Global Grant to repeat these trainings in additional areas around Mufakose.  We’d be happy to visit your Club and tell you more.  Contact Carolyn Schrader, Denver Mile High Rotary schrader407@gmail.com for more information or to arrange a meeting.