“We are extremely grateful for the generous donation from the Michael and Karen Stone Foundation to help us implement the Drought Relief Nutrition Programme to primary school students in some of our hardest-hit partner communities in Zimbabwe”, noted Sue Goatley, CITW and Communities Co-ordinator.
In collaboration with the local headmen and school development committees, Wilderness decided to focus on assisting school children, as many are hungry and find walking up to 6 km to school particularly arduous. “Children who are hungry cannot learn effectively. There are 24 schools involved, located across the Tsholotsho, Hwange, Victoria Falls (outskirts), and Lupane districts in the Matabeleland North region of Zimbabwe – an area significantly affected by this drought”, she added.
More than 1,300 food packs will be delivered each month during the school term, offering much-needed relief to over 8,300 beneficiaries over the next three months.
Goatley says that Wilderness has also supported the schools in planning for the drought: “We provided seeds to our 40 Zimbabwean Eco-Clubs in April 2024, and have been hard at work on our school gardens to ensure there are enough vegetables, in addition to the staples provided in the food-relief parcels”.
The structured rollout of the deliveries to the communities, from 1-3 and 18-20 November 2024, with a third delivery in January 2025, ensures that the programme delivers immediate relief, and sustains nutritional support over the next three months, which is expected to be the peak of the drought season.
“Core to the sustainability of our business is the understanding that our local communities are intrinsically connected to the wild areas and wildlife we help protect. As custodians of these affected regions, and through proactive planning, we are deeply committed to helping our partner communities navigate this challenging period, and we join all in praying for a good rainy season to come”, concluded Sue.
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