Ignatian Family News April - May 2015 Vol.1

April—May 2015

I

o.1 N E SSU

First ion t i d E

Editor’s Note: This is the first edition of a regular newletter from the Development Office of the Jesuit Province of Zimbabwe— Mozambique.

We are writing this specifically for relatives , friends and our partners in Mission—those who work with us in our efforts to make our vision a reality in Zimbabwe.

We see our relatives, friends and partners as part of the extended Ignatian family , inspired by the vision of our founder , St Ignatius Loyola.

Please feel free to offer contributions to the newsletter. Your thoughts , experiences and stories are important to us, and will be of interest to other members of our extended family.

The Jesuit Development Office 37 Admiral Tait Rd Marlborough Harare

There are many good things happening in our Province. The Jesuit schools, in terms of performances and producing well groomed young citizens, are counted amongst the best. We have one of the best strategic responses to social justice questions at St Peters Mbare , where the parish is involved in a number of empowerment projects. With the Magis network, we are reaching out to more and more young people who want to be ‘men and women for others.”

We are often too busy to notice our great strides. Or we are too absorbed in our own projects to appreciate the good works being done next door.

We hope that with the arrival of this newsletter, Ignatian family News, we shall overcome our short sightedness.

So welcome this First Edition of Ignatian Family newsletter. The newsletter is produced by Jesuit Communications for the Jesuit Development office.It

Tel (+263 4 309623 or 712209718

seeks to share projects’ news from around our Zimbabwe— Mozambique Province. As we read about other projects, we will be inspired to tell our own stories, or we will want to seek networking opportunities with those working in the same constituencies .

Happy sharing!!!

Gift

From the Development Director’s Desk —

Cover Page: 1.Children from Pedro Arrupe Centre of Concern , Musami 2. Nurse Aides graduation, Mbare 3. Amazing Women of Mbare

Contributors: St Pauls Musami St Peters Mbare

Copyright 2015

It is not only Jesuits who are inspired

by St Ignatius Loyola’s way of being a companion of Jesus. From our earliest days almost 500 years ago, up until today, we are supported by so many lay colleagues, with whom we strive to achieve the Ignatian vision.

This edition of the Ignatian Family News features three such people. One of our feature articles shows, Ms Gertrude Shereni who dedicated her entire life to St Paul’s Mission, Musami, and in recent years es-

pecially to the Pedro Arrupe Centre.

We also hear from Mrs Beauty Kamucha currently teaching the hearing impaired children, and who also dedicates much of her free time caring for the children.

The other main feature features Sr Diana Kanyere’s work empowering local women at our Mbare parish. We would very much like to hear from members of our extended Ignatian Family, so that we can publish your stories and thoughts.

Please get inspired to write to me at projects@jesuitszimbabwe.co.zw

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Building Dreams: Introducing the Jesuit Development Office A few years ago, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr Adolfo Nicolas, urged every province of the Society of Jesus to set up its own Development Office.

The United States provinces have had such offices in operation for several years, raising funds for Jesuit activities both at home and abroad. The Development Office for the then Zimbabwe Province was set up in 2011, with the appointment of Fr Nigel Johnson S.J as the Development Director. The newly established office had the following mandate:

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To effect transformation from Jesuits to lay leadership of some projects.

To oversee the running of some projects such as: - Zambuko House, - Shingirirayi Trust, - The Integral Youth Devel opment Project

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As well as to fundraise for specific Jesuit projects To ensure compliance and accountability in the running of projects, in line with benefactors and donors requirements.

To explore ways of increasing local funding for projects.

To encourage collaboration amongst Jesuit works, as well as to create valuable networks with the extended Ignatian Family.

In 2014 the Jesuit Development Office grew from a ‘one man show’ to a team of 3. Charity Bafana, (Programmes Officer) and Elisha Makadzange, (Finance and Projects officer) joined Fr Nigel Johnson.

At the end of 2014 the Jesuit Province of Zimbabwe was merged with the Mozambique Region to become one province, the Jesuit Province of Zimbabwe -Mozambique. This automatically expands our mandate as an office to also accommodate the needs of Jesuit works in Mozambique.

The Past For over a century now, Jesuit Mission offices in Europe have been raising funds to support missionaries in different countries. Many missionaries from Europe have also been privately fundraising in their home countries for the support of their work. They also approached international donor agencies for support towards different projects. By these means, many church buildings were constructed, and social projects initiated over the years.

The Future The Church has been in a steady transition for some time now. From a missionary church to a local one. The remaining missionaries will continue to raise funds from their support groups at ‘home’, but the missionary era is now over, and these funds will steadily decrease. The number of locally born Jesuits is increasing, and so do the activities necessary to respond to the total evangelisation of the people.

This transition in terms of both manpower and sources of income , is at the centre of the Province’s development agenda.

Although the funding community is becoming more and more cautious of which areas to focus on and how much to

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give to organisations, the Development Office is grateful for funds secured in 2014 for project support.

The Jesuits in Zimbabwe received a great amount of support over the years from the following partners: 

Jesuit Missions Nuremberg

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Jesuit Missions UK

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Misereor

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Cafod

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FACSI

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United States Catholic Bishops

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Beit Trust

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Missio

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Entreculturas

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Aid to the Church in Need

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ZACRAS

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KAF

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Trocaire

Main projects funded through the Development Office in the past year: 

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St Peter’s Mbare Social Works Empowerment Projects Jesuit Education: Child Protection and Teacher Training programmes

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Magis Africa 2014

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Jesuit Communications

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National Movement of Catholic Students

Current Plans The main focus for 2015 is to raise funds for the Jesuit run Missions. All established more than 50 years ago with the oldest established in 1910, they are in desperate need of renovations and upgrades.

The coming on board of the new province also means we have to embark on a needs assessment process in Mozambique and identity as potential partners for the identified projects. These surely promise to be exciting times for our province.

Another serious matter on our desk for 2015 is the need to capacitate our project coordinators in the areas of project management, reporting and financial management.

With the strict need to be compliant with donor funding requirements, it is imperative that Standard Operating Procedures be set out from this office as a guide for the project coordinators on how to proceed when it comes to matters of financial accountability, reporting and general project implementation.

This year we will also turn our attention and energy to launching local fundraising initiatives. There are a number of models we can refer to within Africa and internationally on how local fundraising has been successfully carried out. These will serve as guidelines for setting a formula that works in our Zimbabwean context.

Challenges The most apparent challenge

the Development Office is facing is the changing nature of the funding environment. Due to the global financial crisis, traditional funders are either reducing allocations to African countries or withdrawing funds completely. This gives us a challenge to be creative and think out of the box when it comes to fundraising.

Collaboration, as a concept, is very straight forward. Implementing it is a bit more complex. We as an office face the challenge of first and foremost establishing amicable working relationships with all stakeholders within Jesuit works, having an in-depth understanding of how they work and what they are passionate about. This is the only way to get buy-in and understanding of what the Development Office is trying to achieve.

Meet our Development Team

Nigel Johnson:

Charity Bafana:

Development Director; has been spearheading the establishment and growth of the office since 2011.

Programs Officer since September 2014. She works with project coordinators in developing proposals and projects reports. She helps also in identifying potential donors, and monitoring compliance levels during projects implementation.

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Elisha Makadzange: Finance officer. Helps in the preparation of budgets and financial reports of the projects.

Pedro Arupe: An oasis in the desert

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Little monkeys jump from tree to tree as they enjoy the cool temperatures provided by the shade from the big trees that surround Pedro Arrupe Centre for Concern in Murewa.

However the monkeys soon disappear as little children make their way into the centre to have their lunch. The children, who all communicate using sign language, wear smiles on their faces as they jostle to grab a plate before retiring into the dining room.

It is the natural habitat, and the lovely smiles, that always welcome one to Pedro Arrupe Centre, at the heart of St Paul’s Musami, in Murewa.

The centre was started by the late Bro Canisius Chishiri S.J as a boarding facility for students with hearing impairments who undertake classes at St Paul’s Musami primary school.

Such was Bro Chishiri’s love for children in disadvantaged situations that he also started Zambuko House in Harare’s Hatfield area , which looks rehabilitates children who have been living on the streets, and educates them and links them with their original families.

The Pedro Arrupe Centre is named after the great Fr Arrupe who was the twentyeighth Superior General of the Society of Jesus, from 1965 to 1983.

The children at the Centre look happy as they go about their cleaning, washing and gardening chores after school.

But Beauty Kamucha, their teacher and voluntary caretaker for the past 10 years, says life is not rosy at the centre. Taking care of the children has become a daunting task for the institution is operating on a shoe string budget.

The Centre houses more than 15 children with hearing impairments but currently faces a number of challenges that are now affecting its operations.

Mrs Kamucha called for assistance from various stakeholders to sustain the centre.

“We are in dire need of assistance in every form for us to operate at full capacity.

The money we get as children’s school fees is not enough and we are working on a tight budget. Children enrolled here are from very

poor backgrounds yet they require specialized care. Their parents and guardians do not have money to pay for high fees.

When operating at full capacity, the institution caters for 28 boarders.

Mrs Kamucha said the school’s infrastructure is now dilapidating as there is no money to refurbish or maintain it.

There is inadequate staff with only one male employee, who is also deaf, working at the centre.

“He is taking care of all the children especially cooking for them and he is earning a paltry $60 for such heavy work.

We need a matron because I am the one who is doing the entire job as a volunteer.

We need care-giver staff to do laundry because for now volunteers are the ones doing it all.

“We also need security guards for

the safe keeping of our children but we do not have money to pay the staff…

“We need to move towards our goal of producing top class learned students, never mind their background. The children here are deaf but we cannot sit down and relax leaving their future in a mess. We need assistance in any form be it groceries, computers and cupboards among other things , for us to function well.

One of the parents Everisto Murambatsvina from Magorimbo Village under Chief Svosve area, whose daughter is enrolled at the institution, hailed the school authorities for being patient and using the available resources to cater for the deaf children. “This place is the best in this country for taking care of the deaf children. I agree that it is not

rosy here, and I give credit to the staff for making ways with the few resources that they have to ensure that these disadvantaged children do get education.”

Pedro Arrupe Centre for the Deaf is likened to an oasis within a desert. It is a valuable place that gives life, but it is rooted at the centre of poverty, with the harsh conditions devouring its glitter and importance.

The situation at the Centre has not escaped the attention of the Development office, who have been working with Fr Stephen Silungwe S.J, the Mission Superior, seeking help and support for the Centre.

The Amazing women of Mbare How do we end poverty? That is a global question which governments and huge multilateral corporations have been battling with since time immemorial.

That question assumes a new and deeper context when you are a priest or leader in Mbare, and every knock on your door, or every second person you talk to, is penniless and they are asking for help to afford the basics of life.

That is the situation that confronted the Jesuits working in Mbare, starting more than 10 years ago with Fr Konrad Landsburg, then Fr Oskar Wermter and now Fr Ignatius Tambudzai who is the current parish priest at St Peters Mbare.

Working now with Sr Diana Kanyere LCBL, the parish then started self-help projects that involve mainly women, who together with their children are the worst victims of family poverty.

The introduction of livelihood projects has revived flagging hope and given an opportunity to women to make the most of their God- given skills.

Projects underway in the communi-

ty include floor polishmaking, poultry, ice cream making, dress making.

The parish mobilised seed money for the projects, and organised project management workshops for the women to equip them with some basic project management ideas.

The women, mostly from under privileged backgrounds have organised themselves into groups of between four to ten members who all contribute to the running of their projects with the help of skills acquired through refresher courses including general business and financial management.

In the dusty streets of one of the oldest high density areas in Harare, women from all walks of life, including widows, have embraced the life changing projects which have the potential to transform not only their

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own lives and their immediate families , but the community at large.

Forty year old Dorothy Bakasa is reaping the benefits of a tailoring project and can now afford to pay her rentals and buy food for her family.

“We have been doing this for only a few months but already we are getting something. It’s not a lot for now, but we are confident that if we put in a lot of effort we will reach the level we have set ourselves ,” she said.

Showing off some of the garments they are making, which include aprons, blouses and skirts, Dorothy is determined to expand their business and one day be able to supply

Floor Polish Manufacture

big companies.

Another member of the group, Caroline Gutu said her dream is to build a beautiful house in an upmarket suburb.

“It is an opportunity for me and my family. I am grateful for the support from the church” she said.

Equally keen to make it in this harsh economic environment is another group called ‘Great hope for the future’. Formed two years ago, this group is largely made up of women living with HIV and AIDS. “We pool resources together and embark on several projects like

ABOUT THE JESUITS

buying and selling. At the end of each year we share our proceeds,” said Regina Madzimure.

The members also take the opportunity to offer each other moral support and encourage uptake of their antiretroviral drugs.

Not to be outdone is Thuluzani Vundla and her group who are into making of dishwasher and other detergents.

“Our products are faring very well on the market because our prices are reasonable and affordable, and their quality is good,” she said, with a hopeful look lighting up her eyes.

However they face a few challenges like finding appropriate markets for their

The Society of Jesus Province of Zimbabwe— Mozambique Website:www.jesuitszimbabwe.co.zw

products and further training to keep abreast with new trends.

The projects embrace anyone one who is keen on improving their life. The beneficiaries are primarily the economically underprivileged who have a desire to utilize their talents in various aspects to improve themselves.

While the majority of the beneficiaries are Catholics from Mbare and the projects are open to anyone who is willing to work hard.

It is envisaged that these projects after some time, will multiply and become self-sustainable.

Inspired

...

write to me at projects@jesuitszimbabwe.co.zw

7 Ignatian Family News April / May 2015 Issue No.1

St Peter’s Mbare embarks on social empowerment projects

Nurse Aides Graduation St Peter’s Mbare is not one of your normal parishes where parishioners meet for an hour or two on Sunday to receive scripture notes, and disappear until the next Sunday. The parish is daily a hive of activities with all sorts of social projects going on in order to help parishioners and nonparishioners alike to cope with life in one of Zimbabwe’s oldest suburbs. It is a home for the widowed, the sick, the disabled and the old aged; it provides education for the orphans and the poor!

The parish is located at the heart of Mbare, making it also central to the many social activities that happen in Mbare. Mbare is home to many of Harare’s low earners, and it presents many challenges to life – from overcrowding, social and political violence, unemployment, malnutrition, to cases of drug abuse and poor service delivery.

Overcrowding and poor social service delivery often leads to high rates of disease. As a direct response to the threat of diseases and unemployment, the parish started a program of training Nurse Aides who work in communities on a voluntary basis to help sick members. The training also qualifies some of them to seek employment with reputable health institutions around the country.

The Nurse Aides project, support-

ed by Jesuits, and coordinated via the Development Office, has Sr Diana Kanyere LBCL taking care of business on the ground.

Fr Ignatius Tambudzai SJ, St Peters Mbare parish priest recently celebrated a graduation Mass for about 200 Nurse Aides who are being trained under the parish’s social apostolate.

The Nurse Aides program draws mainly young people from Mbare and its surrounding suburbs of Sunningdale and Waterfalls. The training is offered to Catholics and non-Catholics – for a period of 6 months.

The students are trained in basic health care with focus on home based care, offering palliative care to relatives, friends and community members with chronic diseases like HIV and cancer, the appropriate administering of medication, counselling and basic hygiene.

Speaking to the graduating class, Fr Tambudzai S.J underlined the role that God plays in the health and safety of a community. “One of the most important lessons I am sure you will carry from here, which you may not have received from the other

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training institutions, and which may appear to be divorced from your classroom nurse aide skills, is our belief that it is God who heals.

Sr Diana, who is coordinator for the program, was full of praise for the Jesuits and the support that their work is receiving from the people of Mbare. “We are grateful to Fr Ignatius Tambudzai and the whole Jesuit family who value our idea to empower our community especially the girl child”.

Addressing the students, Sr Diana said: “We thank you all for responding to our call, and taking up this challenge to prolong life and give dignity to the sick by using your nurse aide skills in the community”.

One of the graduates narrated how their community is plagued with cases of drug abuse, domestic violence which affects family organisation and health, and overcrowding which brings with it sanitation problems and the threat of disease outbreaks.

This was the third graduation of nurse aides in Mbare, and it won’t be the last because there is another class that is already busy learning now.