Yesterday was my birthday! I love the 1st of April, maybe because people react different to it than to other birth dates. It is almost the same reaction when Zulu speaking South Africans hear the name of our organization – Zimele. There is a reaction, a smile, a positive nodding of heads…. I would like to believe they immediately sense our respect and trust in their potential and that it will be them who make the difference in the lives of their communities and their children.

This is a photo of the Zamakuhle Savings Group in Inchanga and is one of our successful groups. (When I asked them what Zamakuhle means they said; ‘trying for the best’)

The group has 20 members, (the photo is a living example of ‘African Time’ meaning people will pitch up when ever they chose to) This complicates the program because everyone needs to be present for the counting of money. Each week they select one member to take the money home with her, which is a huge trust issue in the superstitious Zulu culture. When we challenged them about keeping to time, their reaction is; ‘I have many orphans (most often grand children) to care for and it take up all my time’.)