ICS Zimbabwe

As some of you may know Tuesday 9 February was Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday. This is a pretty widespread eat-junk-food-day in the UK, especially pancakes strangely enough. Although I am a bit strange, as I make fluffy American style pancakes, rather than the usual thin crepe style pancakes. Nonetheless, pancakes are pancakes. My host family did not know about Pancake Day so Steph and I decided to enlighten them. After all, this is a cultural exchange programme too.

Due to its location and affiliation with the St Matthias High and Primary Schools, St Matthias Anglican Church, Tsonzo, has many a parishioner. The whole high school fills the church early doors, serenading the surrounding houses, including that of V, B and Kat. The catchment area spreads over at least five km on their regular Sunday with at least one lady coming from Govhingo, where one of our sessions is based (a 20 minute combi drive away) on Tuesdays.

What am I doing? Am I being crazy? Is it too late to back out? 

These were the thoughts in my head prior to hopping on the plane to Zimbabwe, clutching my boarding pass and plastering a look of nonchalance onto my face. The prospect of staying with a host family for three months with a fellow Progressio ICS volunteer was extremely daunting. Would I get on with the family? Would I like the food? Would I have time on my own to relax?

Working cross culturally is something that, as we’ve learnt, is not very hard. In terms of our ‘African time’ this might sound weird to the UK volunteers but as for us national volunteers, it’s normal. For instance 10am for us is 10:30am. We are surprised at how well UK volunteers are coping with early starts, as we have heard they often lie in till 10am at home! We are glad the UK volunteers are able to cope with Zimbabwean culture.

Cancer is a leading cause of death around the world. In the West, we often assume it is only a real problem in the developed world, but it is rapidly emerging as a major public health concern everywhere. In Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, cancer rates are expected to double in the next twenty years (World Health Organisation, 2012). 

What are we doing here?

We, in the Rowa Runners, are incredibly lucky. While in the UK most of us spent our days locked away in cushy, air-conditioned offices, Zimbabwe offers us a chance to step outside and work in the Great Outdoors. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week, we all cram in our (occasionally) trusty Combi, Ebenezer, and leave the office and the city behind. 

Founded in 1991 in response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic, the Midlands AIDS Service Organisation (MASO) celebrates its 25th birthday this year. So MASO and I are the same age, which really puts into perspective just how well established the organisation has become in such a short space of time. The ultimate goal is to eradicate HIV and AIDS by 2030, through education and prevention initiatives because Zimbabweans are well educated around the matter, but there are still some social myths surrounding HIV, which need to be eliminated.

Team Simukai has changed. Where once there were two teams, now there is one. After almost three years, the urban team’s work in Mutare has sadly come to a close – we’re sure their legacy will continue for many years to come. The work in rural Rowa has fallen to a new group to build on the fantastic progress of Cycles 1 and 2. So welcome to the Rowa Runners Cycle 3! 

The 5 December is International Volunteer Day, a day which celebrates the power and potential of volunteering. Having volunteered in different ways from a young age, I have been able to see first-hand the effect volunteering has, not only on those you are seeking to help, but also on you as an individual. Volunteering provides the opportunity for you to use your skills and talents to help others but also teaches you new skills and allows you to develop new talents. It is one of the best and most direct forms of charity.