Ndebele Art Project Africa - People Who Care

It's been our pleasure over the years to meet and work with a variety of nonprofit groups, all of them compelling, all of them passionate and all of them doing good to better the world. This month, we'd like to highlight Ndebele Art Project Africa, an organization whose exuberant optimism and 'on-the-ground' work is reminiscent of the children's story: The Little Engine That Could. With what sounds a lot like the 'I-Think-I-Can' motto repeated in the story, this group is making an impact while managing on a shoestring. Monetizing the resources they do have, this small and devoted team continues to plug away, slowly but surely, turning a love for their dear friends of the Jabulani Village into steady and sustainable progress.

Their challenge is not unlike the awesome ferocity of nearby Victoria Falls. Zimbabwe's political crisis and resulting economic breakdown has led to abysmal access to public healthcare, a collapsed infrastructure, a crushing HIV epidemic, political violence, food shortages, cholera outbreaks, malnutrition, the world's highest inflation rate (at over 231 million percent) and an unemployment rate of 90 percent. Many better known NGO's who've sent doctors and other aid workers into the country have been run out while NAP Africa's stream of under-the-radar support -- coming from a group of seven board members and a handful of volunteers from Orange County, California -- has to date been unwavering and unencumbered.

This story of endurance began in 2004 when Sandy Orrill was inspired to take action after visiting a Zimbabwean village with her daughter Jennifer Kemper, a dealer in African art. They became acquainted with the talented carvers and the families living in the Jabulani village and saw first hand how devastating an impact the economic downturn was having on their new friends' lives. Acknowledging that there were no safety nets in place to support the Zimbabwean villagers during these unstable times, and that an art form was on its way to extinction, the two began dreaming up what would later become Ndebele Art Project Africa while flying home from their trip.

The work this steadfast group has accomplished in a short period of time is astonishing. To date NAP Africa has funded the building of the Jabulani Pre-School, which serves roughly 55 students, 30% of whom are orphans, and employs two phenomenal teachers year-round. Nearby is the centrally located windmill they installed, equipped with six water tanks for clean water that can serve over 500 people's water needs. In addition, the group provides emergency medical aid and food in monthly stipends.

In 2008 NAP held an incredibly successful village health clinic with sports medicine specialist Dr. Wendy Norman of Laguna Niguel, CA, treating over 90 men, women and children. Dr. Norman will return later this month to conduct a second clinic and to begin health education classes. Awaiting her arrival will be a 1-ton shipment of nutritional supplements and vitamins that she will distribute to the village families to help combat malnutrition.

This year NAP is taking legal steps to form a Trust (Zimbabwe Art Project - ZAP) with local chiefs and community leaders planning a number of new village initiatives. ZAPs first project is a community garden that will help feed villagers as well as allow them to sell product to local hotels and restaurants.

The long term commitment that NAP and its 'engine' of board members, volunteers and donors has made to the Jabulani villagers is to help bring hope, health and economic sustainability back to the village, restoring the majestic 'tall blondes' to the world marketplace and carving a brighter future in Africa through art.


Ndebele Art Project Africa

"I stepped off the big blue van that took us to the village and into the line of fire. "Patient #1", as we called him, had arrived ahead of us and was lying on the floor in Lister's house, in desperate need of medical attention. This was my first indication of just how much the crisis in Zimbabwe is affecting its people. Patient #1 was severely malnourished and underweight, wrapped in a blanket unable to eat or take in any liquid. His mother said he had been this way for over a month. Upon questioning the family I realized that without intervention they would have likely done nothing. I grew to understand that these rural villagers although warm and caring people, lack the resources and exposure to the most basic health care information. They simply don't know what to do. Hospital visits are out of the question -- not only are the villagers limited by lack of transportation, there are very few clinics available. If one can find a clinic, money is the next biggest obstacle. Professional care comes with a high price tag. So, they simply don't go.

I could feel the heat building in Lister's small concrete living room and the pungent smell of stagnating air surrounding Patient #1. His condition was critical and it wasn't likely he'd live much longer without help. I instructed his mother on how to prepare a simple rehydration drink mix of salt, sugar, and water and helped her feed it to him using a baby bottle we had brought on the trip. If he couldn't keep it down, try again. Rehydrating him was the first step to a chance of saving his life. With his treatment underway, I left Lister's living room and began the walk to the Jabulani Pre-school grounds to begin my first official day at the village medical clinic."

I was recruited to join NAP Africa's Board one year ago with the hope of starting a medical clinic in the village. Being a holistic practitioner, I was hesitant to volunteer as head of such an ambitious project, but with careful consideration and excitement for the adventure it presented, I decided I could be of service. In November 2008 I helped NAP Africa establish phase one of the Jubilani Village Medical Clinic. With a donation of nutritional supplements valued at $20,000 from Standard Process Company and with the 100 lbs. we could bring with us in our luggage, we treated over 90 people in 2 days.

When we arrived at the Jabulani preschool that morning we were met by a line of people a mile long -- most of whom had been waiting all night. With the help of a few villagers and several volunteers we organized the clinic so that it functioned like an efficient machine. As NAP's only volunteer doctor, I was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the need. Most patients complained of stomach pain, tooth pain, and loss of appetite - all signs of malnutrition. Over 50% of the villagers at the clinic had low-grade fevers and signs of either viral or bacterial infections.

Needless to say by the end of the two days, I was EXHAUSTED, and so were the supplements! It was clear we needed more of everything.

"Still lying on Lister's living room floor, patient #1 was struggling to keep anything down, but on this day, he was well enough to talk to me a little and in very good English. He indicated that his symptoms were improving, slightly. I gave him some aspirin along with basic vitamins and reinforced the instructions for the rehydration drink mix. I also attempted to add a nutrition shake to the day's food. The fact that Patient #1 was not only alive, but showing signs of improvement, gave me a renewed sense of hope and possibility for the day ahead."

-Wendy Norman, DC

This month Wendy Norman returns to Zimbabwe and the Jubilani Village Medical Clinic Project. Upon her arrival she will find the remaining three pallets (or 1 TON) of donated supplements and introduce five buckets full of custom vitamins, graciously donated by Biotics, whose product is made specifically to meet the needs of the malnourished. Not only will she check up on last year's patients and see new people, she will also facilitate health classes for families at the preschool and help with the initial planning of the Community Garden where the villagers will plant food and herbs for medicinal use.