Zara's Center Newsletter: July 2019

An after-school safe haven for orphans and vulnerable children in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Founded 2007

Zara's Center Newsletter
July 2019

Update From Our Director

Dear Friends of Zara’s Center,

2019 has been busy and exciting for Zara's community thus far.

We have continued to make progress on developing the new land for our forthcoming sustainable agriculture program. In May, we finished outfitting our two new boreholes with pumps and solar panels so that we can use water without the need for electricity. This will allow us to move forward with planting vegetables and installing our solar powered drip irrigation system in the coming months.

We recently undertook a comprehensive analysis of our children’s school performance and we’re very proud of the results. We’re happy to report that for the first time in Zara’s history, 100% of our kids are enrolled in school, in a country where 25% of the poorest (lower secondary school age) children are out of school due to personal or financial hardship (UNESCO). Historically, a handful of our children had been refused enrollment due to a lack of birth certificate. Through the efforts of our staff, we have been able to work with families and schools to ensure every child is enrolled. Additionally, we’re proud that Zara’s grade 7 students consistently perform better on grade 7 exams than the national average (see below for a PDF of Zara’s impact statistics).

Lastly, Zara’s 2019 NYC Marathon charity team is still looking for runners who would like to run the Marathon and raise funds for our programs. If you or someone you know is interested in running, please email our US Program Director at JessicaSBriggs@gmail.com.

I hope you enjoy the recent photos below. Thank you for your continued support for the children we serve.

Sincerely,

Gibson Connick
Executive Director, Zara’s Center

Recent Photos & Video

The Solar panels on Zara's new land have been installed. The panels will allow us to pump water without electricity.

Zara Bella, The Center's canine staff member, helped water the trees on the new land.

Zara's kids show off their incredible artwork, completed as part of the Lalela program.

Zara's older children helped to prepare weekly fruit and vegetable smoothies for all of the children.

Zara's kids regularly chip in with chores to help take care of the Center.

Piano lessons with Mr. Zhou, who has been teaching piano and related music skills part time at Zara's since 2014.

The tanks and stands for our boreholes have also been constructed. This will allow the pumped water to be stored. Next step: drip irrigation.

One of many newly planted fruit trees on Zara's new land.

Beautiful bangles hand-beaded by our youngest children (ages 5-7).

Children enjoying their smoothies.

A big thank you to volunteers from the LDS church, who came to help with routine maintenance and clean the Center in May

Earlier this year, members of the wider community came to Zara's for water during a routine municipal water shutoff. We're always happy to provide water from our borehole to anyone in need.

View Our Updated Impact Statistics
(click the image below to view PDF)

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Zara's Center is supported by the PG Family Foundation. The Foundation was officially incorporated as The Jonathan Plutzik and Lesley Goldwasser Family Foundation in the State of NY. The Foundation is a designated charitable entity as described in U.S. Tax Code Section 501(c)(3). The Center is registered as a Charitable Trust in Zimbabwe. Registered as "Zara's Centre Trust" (Registered Trust: MA137/2007)