Local Partner: Shinga Development Trust

Local Partner Director: Margaret Makambira

Area Served: Manica, Mozambique and Mutare, Zimbabwe

Program Goal: Empowering women, men, and children through literacy programs, vocational training, cooperative gardening, primary education and orphan care.

Program Services Provided: Primary education, women's literacy, vocational training, orphan care and food self-sufficiency.

Number of Program Beneficiaries: Over 3,000 individuals in the cities of Mutare and Manica

Current Needs: Funding for implementation of agricultural program and additional classrooms.

Program Summary: Shinga Development Trust, formerly known as Emmanuel Ministries is an outreach program serving Manica, Mozambique and Mutare, Zimbabwe. The program consists of a women's literacy and vocational training program, pre-schools, a primary school, a clinic, a church, a men's welding program, a cooperative small scale agricultural program and a childcare program for orphaned children. Bread and Water for Africa® provided support for the program including funds for the construction of the clinic building, the pre-school and orphan care buildings and equipment and supplies for the vocational training programs.

The women's vocational training program focuses on sewing, bread salesmanship, and brick making activities. Sewing machines and sewing supplies were purchased with funds from Bread and Water for Africa® and the women made school uniforms for their own children and to sell to others. They are also able to make other types of clothing and craft items to sell to help support their families. The program has over 100 women currently participating.

The founder and director, Margaret Makambira says, "We are declaring war against illiteracy, hunger and disease in Mozambique." They say the greatest strength of the program is, "The willingness of everyone in the community to learn and work hard and the appreciation of the people who are benefiting." And when asked she is most proud of, she responds, "Seeing orphans happy and well-fed, hearing the kids recite their lessons in the classrooms and just seeing the level of development in the project community in Mozambique."

Their ongoing project to establish high school was completed in 2010 and has been ardently serving the community ever since! The school is a great accomplishment for the Shinga Development Trust and a great boon to the local communities. But Shinga isn’t stopping there: it is Margaret Elimelech's dream to one day build a university in Manica!

We continue to be amazed and inspired by diligent joint efforts of Margaret, the people in the local community who are participating in the programs, and the volunteers who are supporting this effort.