A Season of Giving

‘Tis the season to be merry, and we wish you a festive, healthy and safe holiday period.

I visit areas all over Bulawayo -women’s groups, churches, factories and more, but there are some places where tragedy and need are far greater than others.  

Last week I visited Emthunzini Wethemba – Shelter of Hope for street childre, to donate e’Pap to the children and staff.  These children are typical victims of donor fatigue in our country as overseas donors are generally pulling away from funding these days.  I remember when the late Rev Ndoda set it up and it was a model home.  But now, it is battling to stay afloat and the staff there soldier on in their commitment to keeping the doors open.  I meet a lot of children, and Emthunzini Wethemba’s orphans are amongst the most horribly affected by our economic problems. Remember this season they have no home to go to.

If you would like to donate e'Pap high nutrition porridge, one which is now recognised by the Johannesburg City Council as “miracle food”, to Emthunzini Wethemba or any charity of your choice in Bulawayo at this season of giving, we are happy to do this on your behalf – we will deliver to your charity and ensure the process is transparent and accountable.  

Working on a school or work week of 20 days a month, to provide 29 vitamins and minerals a day to anyone over the age of 6 years will cost $5 a month

and for children under 6 years just $2.50 a month.

We are all reeling from economic hardship, but just a small donation will go a long way to help our community to rise above challenges.

The e'Pap warehouse in Bulawayo (behind Archer Clothing) is closed from the 19 December and reopens on 5 January. In Harare the warehouse is closed from 12 December to 12 January. e'Pap makes a great filler for a Christmas stocking for anyone in the family and also is a fabulous gift for your staff. 

e'Pap is not just porridge, it is health in a packet. 

For less than $10 a month for anyone over 6 years and less than $5 a month for children aged 8 months to 6 years you get a whopping 29 vitamins and minerals a day.

Congratulations Ntunungwe School!!!!

 It's just common sense that good nutrition can go so far to change a child's life.

Great news in from Ntunungwe School, one which has been distributing e'Pap to the Grade 7 classes since 2013. The school is supported by Gill Dudman, a local farmer in the area who has for many years dedicated her time and love to the children in this impoverished area.  She wrote.....

"Ntunungwe School achieved a 76,3% pass rate in the  National Grade 7 exams.  Thank you e'Pap, good teachers and able Children!"

The e'Pap is purchased through donations from many sources including the pupils at Carmel School
in Bulawayo, as well as Bredon School in the UK.  A recent newsletter sent to Bredon reads... 

"We also spent some money on Epap, as our supplies were getting rather low.
The Grade 7s are busy writing their national exams. We have been able to feed all 40 of them once a day since the first term in January on Epap. The porridge has made them all look so healthy.
The porridge is also called ‘Clever porridge’ as the children’s work improves when they get good nutrition. Your donation has also meant that we are able to feed some of the pre-school children who were looking rather thin."

 

e'Pap Cares for the Environment

The e’Pap team joined forces with rhino conservationist and activist, Sam Nkomo and his fellow walkers on Saturday 22 November to clean Bulawayo’s filthy streets.  Sam jumped around at the last minute to get his walkers to work with us and it is living proof that he is a man of action, rather than words.  His commitment to the environment is total.  Thanks Sam and team for working with us.

Organised by the City of Bulawayo,  under the Bulawayo Solid Waste Improvement Platform (BSWIP) this multi-stakeholder initiative is determined to help restore the city to its former glory of being the cleanest city in the country and beyond.

Before we left to clean “our” street, we were entertained by some great dancers and we got to meet the mascot for the African Youth Games about to start here.  Our team cleaned 5^th Ave, including the noxious market and we were proud to do our bit for our environment. 

e’Pap Zimbabwe is committed to, “reduce, reuse, recycle” and our “Gogo” project to reuse our bags is gaining popularity.  We also no longer have to buy bags for our seedlings.  

 In the Eastern Cape the e'Pap feeding scheme uses the bags for carpet protection and as "raincoats" for the little ones!