Liyana USA Tour 2009

Bobby Sager photo, © 2009

MISSION IN AFRICA

RELIEF FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN ZIMBABWE

So little of the charitable giving that is directed to Africa reaches Zimbabwe. Many organizations do not feel comfortable there. Whenever I am asked to support a charity in Africa, I always ask if it serves Zimbabwe, and the answer rarely yes. Lesley Goldwasser (2009)

I was born and grew up in Zimbabwe. While I have lived in New York since graduating from the University of Cape Town, I have traveled to Zimbabwe to visit at least once a year. It has been extremely painful to watch the demise of what was once an incredibly vibrant and thriving country. It is hard for me to even think about it.

Zimbabwe to me is the forgotten planet. So little of the charitable giving that is directed to Africa reaches Zimbabwe. Many organizations do not feel comfortable there. Whenever I am asked to support a charity in Africa, I always ask if it serves Zimbabwe, and the answer rarely yes.

There is so much needed in Zimbabwe. Sadly at the same time, there is less support available than ever before.

We are hoping that this wonderful dream of bringing Liyana to America will at the same time bring some focus on the current situation in Zimbabwe and inspire others to support some of the areas of desperate need.

Lesley Goldwasser
PG Family Foundation (2009)

MEET KGVI SCHOOL

Bass Marimbist, Vusani, wearing the logo - and most important message of KGVI - NEVER GIVE UP!

King George VI School in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe provides rehabilitation and boarding facilities to children from age 3 to 18 with physical disabilities and hearing impairments. It is the only secondary education facility in Zimbabwe for disabled children and the only primary school in the southern part of the country.

Through its school program, KGVI offers rigorous academic training leading to collegiate admission, and trade-oriented programs for those unprepared to pursue higher education. Physiotherapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy are also offered to every child by staff Rehabilitation Technicians with mentorship and assistance from international volunteers. KGVI operates 10 independent living housing where graduates live in a group setting with assistance from house parents.

Graduates of KGVI graduate with critical life and leadership skills; several have even become guardians of younger siblings when serious illness cut short the lives of parents. In a country where the average life expectancy is less than 40, more than1.2 million children have been left without one or both parents due to the Aids pandemic, as reported by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and UN Development Program (UNDP).

At the current time, KGVI is totally reliant on the generosity of donors from around the world who believe that every child should have the chance to live a full and productive life, in spite of physical or medical challenges.

KGVI gave band members from Liyana the training to become competent musicians and then the confidence to reach for the goal of performing in America.

OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

Don't just stand there... Do Something!

Rachael Goldwasser Plultzik (2008)

Over the last couple of years, through my volunteer experiences in Africa, I have learned that 'every little bit helps'. While I know that my work with the Liyana Band from KGVI and with Zara's Center will not change the life of every child in Zimbabwe, I've learned firsthand that doing 'something' is far better than simply standing by and hoping things will improve.

Every one of us should do something... even just a little something to relieve the suffering of others. Working together, I really believe that we can change the world.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD

In the fall of 2007 I joined my mother on an extended trip back to her home in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. I attended school full-time there for three months and spent my afternoons working at Zara's Center, a program I had started with my family to address the needs of aids-impacted orphans. Tragically, things in Zimbabwe have continued to deteriorate substantially, even since our trip last year. Unemployment is more than 80%. There is little or no food. Life expectancy has become the lowest in the world with both men and women expected to live only until their mid-30's. Inflation is considered to be the highest in the history of the modern world as well. In fact I believe the government recently issued a trillion dollar note. There is hardly any good news, but we can't stop trying to make things better, for ourselves and for others who may be suffering. With NGO's recently forced to close, we are helping Zara's children wherever and whenever we can, including holding programs on the street for as many kids as our staff can handle. While it's a struggle to run an outreach program in these tough economic times, it makes me proud to know that we are making an effort to improve the lives of children Zimbabwe, who without our program might have nowhere else to turn.

(For more information about Zara's Center, contact the PG Family Foundation -- dbriggs@pgfdn.com)