Christmas Prayer by Kuda

This Poem/Prayer, from our first Newsletter, was written specially by Kuda for Christmas 2008 for use in Churches around Burton on Trent in Staffordshire, UK. He was to have taken part in several services, but much to the great sadness of many people, his visa was refused. However, his prayer was read at Christmas Services in several Churches, and hopes were expressed by many people that Kuda would eventually be able to come to UK, to spend a holiday with his numerous friends in Burton and the surrounding area.

Our Heavenly Father, Our Lord of utmost wonder,
Tonight as we remember the birth of your son,
Your  forgiveness we ask, for all the times we have taken for granted 

all the good that in our lives you’ve done.
 
As we await in eager anticipation to feast and make merry,
For the birth of our Saviour the Son of Mary,
Within our hearts we remember those in the   

“forgotten corners of the world”,
Whose hearts amidst the turmoil, by fear, captive held.

 
 We commit to you the people of Zimbabwe,
Whose people are now scattered everywhere.
Our prayer being that their nation you may heal,
And your justice for the victims reveal.
 
We remember the starving children,
The mothers and fathers whose dignity has been stolen.
We pray not for war in that nation,
But your peace and salvation
 
We glorify your name,
With hearts all over the world, the same.
In our hearts we receive your Son,
May he therein come second to none
 
In the name of the Father, 

the Son and the Holy Spirit, 

we pray, 

Amen.

Zimbabwe & Sudan - two articles by Phithi

From time to time we will be adding articles and other information about our work extracted from back numbers of our Newsletter. These will be written not only by ourselves but contributors from our African beneficiaries and other supporters of our cause. The first of these is re-printed from the February 2010 issue and is an introduction to Zimbabwe, the second from the March issue is on Sudan.

Educating Others

Supporting charity work in Sudan and Zimbabwe

Contributions  by
Phithizela Ngcobo

Educating Others has been supporting two charities in Africa: Rose of Sharon in Zimbabwe and GUA Africa in Sudan. In this and the next issue of the Newsletter, we will look at the two countries and this issue looks at Zimbabwe. The next issue will look at Sudan.

Zimbabwe
A brief introduction

Located in southern Africa, at the base of the continent, Zimbabwe is a former British colony hence the use of English as the Official Language although the indigenous languages Shona (spoken by about 75% of the population) and Ndebele (spoken by 25%) are widely used in the media and in every day life. The country is known for its mild climate with maximum temperatures of about 27 degrees Celsius in summer and minimum of about 2 to 5 degrees in winter (May to August).  The  staple food is sadza made of dried white maize powder which is then ground. The dish is eaten with meat, fish, vegetables and other available alternatives. Like any African country, Zimbabwe is made up of diverse ethnic groups (popularly known as tribes) although it’s generally divided into Mashonaland (the Shona speaking areas) and Matabeleland (the Ndebele speaking areas). However, these language and ethnic differences are generally insignificant as people try to forge a sense of nationhood and oneness and Zimbabweans are generally regarded as friendly people.

Zimbabwe still boasts of the highest literacy rate in Africa with over 90% literacy rate which was a result of the government’s investment in education after independence in 1980. However, the turn of the new millennium (2000) has witnessed a rapid deterioration of the country’s economy and social life; with most families facing challenges which are a  result of several factors like drought and the government’s land reform programme. (This newsletter will not dwell much on these as the aim of Educating Others is to reach and support children). This has led to many children failing to go to school and the proliferation of street children - a common consequence of hard times. This has created a need among the children who are the future, as they can no longer pursue their studies.

Educating Others has therefore decided to move in to be part of those who are shaping Zimbabwe’s future by educating children. We will achieve this by working with charities in Zimbabwe within our budget and resources. It is for this reason that we are raising funds specifically targeting children. Education and health services have also deteriorated but the year 2009 saw the formation of the new government which has given the country an opportunity to move on. Our aim is therefore to support this effort and ensure that those who can benefit from our contribution are afforded the opportunity to attend school and build a foundation for their future.

More detailed information about Zimbabwe can be found on this Wikipedia link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwe

It is hoped that this brief information will give our valuable readers and supporters a vivid picture of the country and in the next issue we will give you a brief picture of Sudan.  
  

                                                                                                                   

   We have included two photographs of the Victoria Falls



Sudan
A brief introduction

This article looks at Sudan, a country where Educating Others is supporting efforts to build a school for children. Sudan is a former British colony that gained independence in 1956. It is the largest country in Africa (in terms of size, not population) and uses Arabic and English as mediums of communication along with other local ones. It is home to both Moslems and Christians and is endowed with natural resources. Like many other parts of Africa, Sudan has witnessed religious and ethnic tensions creating a humanitarian situation. The Darfur region has witnessed a lot of religious and ethnic fighting for a long time leading to the use of Child Soldiers. More information about Sudan can be found on this link:  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudan.

  

These fights have meant that children fail to lead a normal life of going to school and    preparing for a better future. However, in spite of this bleak-like situation, ‘miracles’ have emerged as shown by a brilliant, inspiring and blessed young hero, Emmanuel Jal who fought as a child soldier for years after losing all his family members during war until he was rescued by a wonderful British woman, Emma McCune who risked her life rescuing over 150 child soldiers. (Unfortunately Emma passed away in a car   accident later on but her friends continued to   support Emmanuel’s  education).  His moving testimony, arguably one of its kinds in our modern life, can be found on the TED website below. You can see the reality of Emmanuel’s life when he was rescued in 1989, but more importantly, you will get a chance to see Emma, the angel who decided to ‘save the life of an African child’. The music by Emmanuel is awesome (watch the video and grab a copy):

http://www.ted.com/talks/emmanuel_jal_the_music_of_a_war_child.html

 

Emmanuel has decided to build a school, Emma Academy, named after McCune to educate children who are the victims of war. The first time I heard Emmanuel’s story on the TED Website, I was moved, I felt this is a young man that deserves my support and of everyone that believes in making a difference in our world. It was one of the reasons that I decided to join hands with the Yateses to form Educating Others. What is unique about Emmanuel’s venture is that he is building a school, probably the greatest investment one can ever make. I happen to live in Oxford, one of the world’s leading educating centres. Every day I see the buildings of Oxford, built in the Medieval Ages (c 1200 or so), I am reminded about the enduring nature of educational institutions, they far outlive those who build them. The great men and women who built Oxford are long gone (and probably forgotten), but their works are still transforming lives to this day. Think of great world leaders who have passed through Oxford, but it took someone to build structures that have shaped the future. I think that’s what you and I are doing right now; building the future that will far outlive us. Emma Academy may not become Oxford, but it will help to shape Sudan and the world’s future, thanks in part to our efforts. Let’s all put our sinews and resources together to support this great Sudan project. Yes We Can.

 

 Near Emma Academy - photo from GUA Africa

 

EDUCATING OTHERS - supporting child education in Africa

This wonderful and futuristic project is the 'brainchild' of my wife Brenda, me and Phithizela Ngcobo, a Zimbabwean national. A separate newsletter introducing us is available as a Portable Document File (PDF). It is aimed at educating others, those who need financial and moral support to be able to attain a decent education. One of the founders, Brenda is a retired teacher who has seen the impact that education has on children for better. This venture will mean she remains touching the lives of children, or “teaching from the other side of the classroom”. I sum up the whole project as a “God-given venture to do in our old age” and Phithi adds that it is, “our opportunity to reach others for a better future”. Although the founders are Christians, we do not use religious affiliation as a criterion to give help.

As with many voluntary groups our group came about by accident - I have for many years been corresponding over the internet with a young Zimbabwean scientist, Kudakwashe Lionel Kupara, who is now researching for his PhD in Texas, USA.  We have invited Kuda twice to spend a holiday with us in the UK, but both times his Visa was refused. It was at this time that I saw Phithi commiserating with Kuda on a chat line. As Phithi was already in UK and studing for his Masters Degree, I contacted him and we invited him to come and stay for a few days (this was in May 2009) - since then he has been several times, and during his stay with us over Christmas 2009, we discussed and formed EDUCATING OTHERS.

We are however a small venture, and have decided to limit our support to just two projects in Africa. One is the Gua Africa Emma Academy in the Southern Sudan founded by Emmanuel Jal.  This ambitious project is a school being set up for children scarred by years of warfare.

Our other beneficiary is the Rose of Sharon Welfare Organisation in Harare, Zimbabwe, founded by Mrs Fatima Maruta. This is a small educational organisation which cares for orphan children from birth to 18, many of whom are effected by HIV/AIDS.

100% of all monies collected is shared equally between our two beneficiaries and no administration costs or expenses will be deducted from collected funds and printing will be kept as minimal. Most communication will be done on email to minimise printing, and where there is a need to print, the trustees will bear the cost.

Who are we?

Phithizela Ngcobo

 

Phithizela Ngcobo is a Zimbabwean national and a young book publisher with a Master's Degree in Publishing. At the moment he is resident in Oxford. His main area of interest is in Children’s publishing, and his future dream is to start a publishing house that publishes books that focus on children and help them to become responsible adults who will mould our world for the better.

Brenda Yates

 

Brenda Yates comes from a teaching family and spent all her active teaching career in and around Burton on Trent. She, like her husband, has always been involved in music. She was a member of several church choirs, Burton Operatic Society and also Lichfield Cathedral Special Choir. 

David Yates

David Yates spent his working life in Architecture. He has also been heavily involved with music, having been an Organist and Choirmaster for over 55 years.  David has been the organist for the St. Wystan's Chapter of the Guild of the Servants of the Sanctuary for the last 20 years. He has composed music for the Church and also some secular pieces for his friend Chen Jie in China. He founded the Rolleston Music Circle and Choral Society. He was for many years a member of both the Lichfield Cathedral Chamber Choir and Special Choir. In 1966 he founded and was Director of the Rolleston Festivals of Music and the Arts, in which many international artists took part. 

Kudakwashe Lionel Kupara

Kudakwashe Lionel Kupara is also a Zimbabwean national with Degrees in Biochemistry and is now researching for his PhD at A&M University in Texas. David has corresponded with Kuda for many years and through him met Phithi in 2009. Without David’s friendship with Kuda, Educating Others would never have come into being.