Zimbabwe Workcamp

I participated in a workcamp and seminar in Zimbabwe (July to August 2003) at Rusape, 180 km away from Harare, at the Serengeti 5 Training Centre, organized by the Zimbabwe Workcamps Association. We laid the floors of Chineka Primary School that were vandalised. We became close to the community, particularly the children and went to their houses. It was a tragedy to see how the children were suffering with their illnesses (HIV/Aids and tuberculosis). The men were invited to play soccer with the community for money - they won and contributed the money back to the community. We enjoyed ourselves till the last day when the children of the school gave us a variety show of which we were part. The children were heartbroken when they said thank you in song and a drama; everyone was in tears. As thanks the community gave us supper and some entertainment from a local marimba band till late night.

We departed from the Serengeti 5 Training Centre to Harare for the seminar which focused on peace, reconciliation and reconstruction.

One of the Zambian participants and I facilitated a workshop on mediation and peace education. Others at the seminar said that they would implement it in their countries. We discussed leadership and the question arose who are better leaders, men or women? Initially, the majority of the women said men are the best leaders and we went into a debate and we reached the conclusion that men and women have equal rights and women could also be good leaders. We were issuing out some maize to two of the surrounding schools near the Zimbabwe Workcamp Association farm. The children ran after us and one boy (an orphan for 7 years whose parents died of HIV/Aids) cried and said 'Please take me with you, don't leave me behind!' I could not reply because I was very emotional about the request. The evening we had our farewell parties and said our good byes.

Jasmine Sprinkle