The EcoEd Trust helps develop schools affected by poverty and lack of funding by assisting in various ways in developing their efforts to improve their facilities. Its aims and objectives include:
To research and develop systems of sustainable management of natural resources using the principles of natural farming and permaculture design. To facilitate rural development in all forms but with speci
fic regard to enhancing local livelihoods by research and empirical application. To facilitate the development of indigenous arts and crafts. These objectives may include all or some of the following:
Improved livelihood strategies drawing on indigenous knowledge systems and natural farming methodologies such as composting, vermi-culture, conservation farming, minimum tillage, water harvesting, livestock management and small scale dairying, poultry and small stock management
Ecological sanitation
Propagation and distribution of indigenous trees, fruit trees, herbs and suitable plants to encourage bio diversity and foster healthy eating
Encouraging local artists though our partnership with Artists for Artists by mentoring young artists, assisting in advertising and marketing and by providing an attractive venue for the display of works, holding workshops, exhibitions, and with Simukai Arts for dance and drama events
Working with local schools to improve the capacity of teachers to provide an improved service to their children by sourcing donor support for school equipment and books, finance for infrastructure improvements (including computers, solar energy, water harvesting, ecological sanitation). We also run workshops and training sessions on demand and on a pro bono basis for children and teachers from our local schools, in such practical matters as compost making, organic gardening, poultry keeping, and other related subjects identified by pupils and staff. Our library is a reference resource, open to staff and pupils. Our Internet satalite connection is being planned to develop into a local IT centre and “internet cafe” specifically for use by school children. We support individual cases of hardship such as HIV/AIDS orphans from single or child headed households, with feeding schemes and have distributed clothing donated by sympathetic partners in the Diaspora. Our main support has been directed to the Great Dyke School, situated one km from the EcoEd Resource Centre and Sculpture Gardens with books, stationary, plants and trees, eco-sanitation, school fees for identified orphans without other support; and other ad hoc interventions. We are currently raising funds to support the the head master and staff. The head is a dedicated educator with a Master’s degree in education who we are very fortunate to have running the school. His salary is totally disproportionate to his energy and example to the children and the community. We wish to set up a fund to augment his salary and members of his staff. The school catchment draws its pupils from a community identified as ranking amongst the poorest in Zimbabwe and they are unable to raise funds for this purpose from their own resources. We do not normally associate ourselves with such a “charity” programme but are drawn to it by the need to retain the services to the school and the community of so exceptional a team. If the school is to develop as a sustainable unit and continuing influence for good in the community something has to be done to improve the lot of the teachers whose salaries are pegged by a cash strapped government at under $250 per month. Eco Ed has in the past assisted other schools in the community that we identify as being particularly hard pressed. Such a one is Jester which we were able to help with funds for a new class room. All the schools have asked for help with developing their gardens, specifically with the planting of trees, and the growing of vegetables to augment the children’s mid morning meal. To augment our income so as to provide the services enumerated above and to maintain our gardens and buildings EcoED undertakes the following:
Consultancies to NGOs and others in the field of institutional and governance issues in the management of natural resources especially in communal areas common property regimes. Workshops and seminars covering the following fields:
o Zimbabwe’s traditional culture and history
o Institutional complexity and legal plurality in Zimbabwe in relation to governance and management of resources and rural development
o Permaculture, composting, vermiculture and ecological sanitation
o Cultural tours of surrounding communal lands to meet artists and cultural leaders, traditional leaders and healers, in their rural homes
