Coming Together ...

Tuesday, January 27^th

As is the case in most African countries, a number of small “mom and pop” initiatives have sprung up in Zimbabwe in response to the obvious HIV/AIDS-related crisis in the country.  

TEAM’s people in Zimbabwe have nurtured a meaningful relationship with a number of these over the years.  Our experience in Kenya had given us a first-hand view of how small HIV/AIDS-related initiatives could come together in forums  for meaningful over-sight and coordination of numerous intentional initiatives, and engagement in combating the spiritual and socio-economic impact HIV/AIDS has in the lives of people in the region.

They function indigenously.  They tend to nullify so many otherwise inherent problems in the area of funding ... like issues of dependency and equitable distribution of resources.  We saw how they had been structured, were being nurtured and learned about the way in which they work.

In response to a vision that had been growing in us for applying the forum model to Zimbabwe, we had asked to meet with a group of people who might be interested in engaging in such a network.

We gathered in what was left of the Botanical Garden in the capital city, and heard of what was being done in various places through the four initiatives that were represented.  More had been invited but were unable to be there for the occasion.

As we broached the subject of a working forum, the group responded unanimously and enthusiastically in favor of such an idea and asked us to pursue the possibility immediately.