Promote Healthy Homes in Zimbabwe

We are excited to partner with Bopoma Villages to provide resources for healthy homes in Zaka, Zimbabwe. This project will empower 160 homes with eight sustainable solutions to hunger, health and water needs.

Why Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. After dramatic economic swings through the 2000s, shortage of cash in Zimbabwe led to economic crisis that resulted in unemployment and closures of businesses. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is dealing with serious health crises. Diarrhea is the 5th leading cause of death for children under 5, along with HIV/AIDS. 60% of people lack adequate sanitation facilities while 20% lack access to clean water.  The rural region of Zaka, Zimbabwe is home to around 200,000 people. After years of no rain in this region, heavy rains resulted in flooding and destruction of homes and gardens.

ODW + Bopoma Villages

Our partnership with Bopoma will enable a program called Healthy Homes for 160 households. Focusing on water, hygiene, sanitation, and nutrition, the following 8 steps will work to alleviate extreme poverty in Zaka:

• Clean Water: A single household water filter that will provide enough clean water to meet the needs of a household of 10.
• Handwashing: Tippy Taps are hand­washing stations that provide an effective way to wash hands in the absence of running water.
• Pot Racks: These racks eliminate bacterial growth on wet dishes by drying in the sun, killing microbes.
• Disposal of Waste and Garbage: Removal of animal waste and garbage from yards and dwellings will minimize contamination and disease
• Fly traps: Flies are a major carrier of disease. These traps are made with plastic bottles that catch and kill flies.
• Rocket Stoves: Cooking in many parts of Africa is usually done over open fires in small huts. The resulting smoke is a leading cause of death. Rocket stoves are simple to construct and generate more heat with less smoke using less wood, and are used outdoors.
• Bio-­Intensive Household Gardens: A diet consisting mainly of maize meal prevents starvation but lacks essential vitamins and minersals, so bio-intensive gardens will provide high-nutrient vegetables essential to health and disease prevention.
• Rainwater Harvesting: Water is critical to the success of a garden, and locally developed methods of capturing and storing rainwater will extend the growing season of a garden.

Join us! ODW is matching every gift up to a total of $28,500. Join us!