Today Confident Christianity is participating in the COVID-19 Giving Tuesday campaign. We agree with heart behind this global initiative that seeks to mobilize the world through giving.
“We believe that generosity has the power to unite and heal communities in good times and bad. A global threat like COVID-19 touches every person on the planet, and it presents an opportunity to come together as a global community.”
#givingtuesdaynow campaign
As a result of Covid-19, the entire economy of Victoria Falls Zimbabwe has collapsed overnight. The 35,000 inhabitants of this tourist destination town have regularly faced significant hardship with dignity. However, for the first time with tourism at a standstill the loss of income and starvation is beyond their control.
With the entire town now unemployed, The Jafuta Foundation is assisting with training programs for local small scale farmers to learn new farming techniques that are vital for future sustainability, but there is an immediate need to ensure food is available now as well.
Why do we want to support Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe?
Our connection to these people goes back to an apologetics conference in New Zealand. Though it sounds crazy…it actually is kind of crazy. While speaking at the Confident Christianity Conference in NZ, I met a young apologist who showed immense concern for the value of human life, Narelle Henson. She is witty, fun, but also speaks with great compassion and conviction. I was immediately impressed with this young apologist, but then I learned that she was going to pack up her family and move across the world to Zimbabwe to be a light in the Victoria Falls community. I’ve been following her family’s journey via Facebook and stayed connected through messages back and forth. Recently, she messaged me that she had started reading my book, and so I took the opportunity to ask how her family was doing through the COVID pandemic. Her reply floored me. She said that they were doing alright, but the people of Victoria Falls were facing possible starvation.
Victoria Falls’ economy depends largely on Western tourism for their livelihood, and so 90% of the people are without jobs due to the pandemic. Without a stable government to provide life-sustaining support, the people are faced with dire circumstances. Narelle has started a community garden in which she is attempting to grow food for the people around her, but the need is immediate. While I know there are more situations out there like this one, I want to try to help where I can. So, I’m asking you to join Confident Christianity in donating towards food and supplies to help the people stabilize their situation.
The photos above are from the urban planting initiative Narelle writes about here. This initiative will be another great long term solution for local food. Below, Mary Jo and Narelle pause for a picture at the Confident Christianity conference in New Zealand.
The Jafuta Foundation is a registered 501(c)3 organisation in the USA. It is 100% NOT FOR PROFIT and all funds donated go directly towards our causes and projects. There are no administration costs and the Foundation relies on donations to continue its operations.