'My Zimbabwe Experience'
World Jewish Relief's Cassie Williams recounts her time spent helping the Jewish community and other people in need in Zimbabwe.
I have worked as Programme Manager for WJR (World Jewish Relief) for 16 months. Prior to joining the team, I spent two and a half years in Rwanda and Ethiopia, working with street kids and destitute citizens. However, nothing could have prepared me for what I experienced in Zimbabwe in February, when I went to visit the project WJR supports.
I didn’t go to Zimbabwe armed with statistics and percentages, or with a clip board to fill out mundane forms and cross the appropriate boxes. I spent a week in this fascinating country to learn more about the daily turmoil of its citizens. The reports of the situation pale in comparison to the reality - life for the average Zimbabwean is unimaginably difficult today.
Everything is in short supply - from basic food stuffs to petrol. The March/April harvest has been blighted by a serious drought. In the country’s second city, Bulawayo - where WJR is active - the majority of people are surviving on food aid and other assistance. Across much of the city, roads are falling in to disrepair; refuse is no longer collected, posing a serious health risk; water is in short supply and prices rise by the hour. The health system has almost entirely collapsed and the supermarket shelves remain empty.
I spoke to a number of elderly people buckling under the responsibility as the official guardians to their orphan grandchildren - they doubt that they will ever be able to provide for these children. The young people I spoke to were startlingly frank about how hard it is to concentrate at school on an empty stomach – schools continue to function nominally, despite the dramatic exodus of teachers who have fled the country in search of different jobs for better pay.
People wait patiently for change, clinging onto hope.
Currently, WJR is supporting a Jewish old age home called Savyon Lodge, where 24 Jewish residents and two non-Jewish residents are somewhat sheltered from the horrors befalling the population. They live in relative comfort; receiving three decent meals a day and medical support thanks to WJR and our partners on the ground. They are, perhaps blissfully, ignorant to the fact that their life savings are worthless and that they are barely able to contribute to their upkeep. As the shortages and economic crisis expand to unthinkable levels, the home faces severe difficulties in securing food and medical equipment and is compelled to source goods from South Africa. WJR provides the funds to enable them to do this – but sadly, many Zimbabweans do not have access to the kind of support WJR provides.
There is nothing, so they have nothing. Inflation is spiralling out of control: in the middle of February a loaf of bread cost Z$3.5 million - then, Z$10 million was worth approximately £1. On 3rd April, a loaf of bread cost Z$10.5m and Z$100m was equal to £1.
It is estimated that some 3,500 Zimbabweans die every week from the combined effects of HIV/AIDS, poverty and malnutrition. Life expectancy is one of the lowest in the world; since 1994 it has fallen from 57 to 34 for women and from 54 to 37 for men. Industry has all but collapsed, causing millions to flee the country in search of a better life elsewhere, while those who remain are trapped in poverty, unable to provide for their children or themselves. Over 80% of those who remain in the country are unemployed.
WJR considers it both a duty and an honour to help the Jews in need in Zimbabwe. However, the needs of the majority black population are undoubtedly far more pressing and as such, WJR is currently working with local agencies to find ways to assist the wider community of Bulawayo.
If you are interested in finding out more, or donating to WJR, please call 020 8536 1250, email info@wjr.org.uk or visit www.wjr.org.uk.
Cassie Williams is WJR Programme Manager
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