- The borehole installation
is FINISHED. Witness the celebration as villagers draw water from taps. Now their village can start to develop and become self-supporting and resilient. Water truly is life. - REYNOLD’S RABBITS, the first exploratory rabbit project, is going well.
Reynold’s Rabbits
The rabbits have plenty of toys to explore and play with. We recently supplied Reynold with a large sack of Rabbit pellets whilst he grows the feed recommended for a natural diet. The local vet has suggested a mixed diet of basil, parsley, banana leaves, carrots and lettuce. ( Watch out for rabbits climbing banana trees..)
- Meeting with Her Excellency, the British Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Jo Abbot.
House of Lords with Her Excellency Deputy British Ambassador to Zimbabwe,
Jo Abbot
Lesley Ann and Alistair were delighted to be given the opportunity of taking tea at the House of Lords with the Deputy Ambassador, at the invitation of VFA Trustee Baroness Fookes. Aside from delicious scones and tea on the hottest day of the year, the team received good advice and information from Her Excellency. Her Excellency also introduced VFA to the new Honorary Consul, the Honourable Mike Davis, of Shearwater, Victoria Falls, with whom Lesley Ann has subsequently had a very supportive and informative conversation. 
Tools With A Mission (TWAM) has donated five hand-powered sewing machines.
The Christian charity has sent these machines on their long journey to BH29 Village, via Lusaka, Zambia. After many emails and much support from TWAM, Lesley Ann has arranged for them to be collected by the Lusaka area co-ordinator and taken to Platinum Couriers, who will transport them to Livingstone. Once they arrive in Livingstone, they will be met by the Livingstone area co-ordinator, who will transfer them to the Shearwater Team, under the instructions of Hon. Consul Mike Davis, to transport them over the border and to Victoria Falls, where our team will collect them. The machines have a gift certificate which exempts them from border customs’ duty charges. Once delivered, our ladies will learn how to use them and begin making products for the charity ‘Pathways’ in Victoria Falls, before expanding their business into a new project serving the local area. We are immensely grateful to TWAM for their generosity and kindness in supporting VFA in its aim of creating self-sustaining projects generating income for the villagers.- VFA also learned of a new challenge during the meeting with Her Excellency Jo Abbot.
Unbeknownst to VFA, new laws were enacted affecting all charities and voluntary organisations operating in Zimbabwe, requiring them to re-register or face punitive penalties. With only 5 days to go, long hours and hard work from all concerned have led to our solicitor, Tsungirirai Marufu, being able to lodge an initial application to Re-Register. Important documents have yet to be acquired and are only available from the Hwange Council offices. Local Community Development Officer, the honourable Cllr G. Moyo, is working with Happiness, Chief Mvuthu and the Council to obtain these documents in time for the final cut-off on 22 August. Unfortunately, they had an abortive first trip and were unable to complete the task. They will be travelling again this week. Each trip costs $40 in petrol and a lost day’s work. Happiness is currently trying to earn the money to pay school fees for his two children. Life is challenging. - Next Fund Raising event:- 25 October 2025 (this event had to be postponed until 28 Feb 2026. Watch out for more details as they develop.
St John’s Church Hall, Brittany Road TN38 0LF.
Watch for further details, save the date!
