Where? In Dapota, Zimbabwe –1900 people, most people are unemployed

Start Created in 1999 when Ynghild Solholm travelled to Zimbabwe to see if she could do anything to help the local people. Lived in Dopota for several years and worked together with the local people

What did Ynghild Solholm do? Teaching English Informing about AIDS problems Noticed that the hunger problem stopped development and education

Travelled back to Norway to raise money What did Ynghild Solholm do?

What happened with the money? “Grass root level” – Everything is aimed towards long time solutions, not short term fixes Focus on “Self-help” to get the money where it is most useful

How is this achieved? Local people –organise the projects –execute and manage the projects started –own the projects

What is organised? Kindergarten – so the oldest girl in the family does not have to skip school to watch the younger children Godparents project – sponsor a child to pay for his or her education, school uniforms, medical care, clothing, blankets, etc.

What is organised? Food distribution – Especially the things which cannot be grown by local farmers, but also the staple crops when famine strikes. Health care centre – the common illnesses such as AIDS, malaria and more are treated here.

What is organised? A dam – a dam has been made to collect the little rainwater the village gets. It has taken the local people a year of work but now three villages have a reliable supply of water. A water system – to transport the water to the houses and farms.

What is organised? A small business fund – to help people start their own, small scale projects An emergency fund – to help people pay hospital bills, funerals, lawyers etc.

What is organised? Showers and toilets for the teachers at the local school – to attract people to work here. Also, school equipment has been bought. Electricity has been brought to the village.

What is organised? A woman’s club – the ladies in this club arrange many things. They sew school uniforms for the poorest children, have several vegetable gardens, create jobs and keep the village going.

Why is this all so good? The work is not done by foreigners or outsiders, all the effort and ideas come from the local people. The only thing which Westerners contribute is money and knowledge. The projects do not “fix” what Western people think needs to be fixed. Instead, the actual problems are being solved.

Why is this all so good? This makes the project as sustainable as possible. The people work together for a better future. All materials used are manufactured locally and so benefit the community. The farmers’ market is still open and not interfered with. No one loses their business.

Summary Money is raised by Norwegians, send to Zimbabwe where it is used to create a sustainable environment for the people of Dapota. Several educated Norwegains teach the locals how to use the money to benefit everyone. This way, projects are started and sustained which help the community to secure a better future.

Sources Ynghild Solholm Planet Geography, page 114