Dear Friend of ZANE
As 2023 draws to a close and we see the world in the turmoil of war, famine and disaster again, it is often difficult to keep in mind the suffering of the ordinary, everyday citizens of Zimbabwe. It is hard to imagine, living as we do in a country which has a free medicare service and social security, that people in Zimbabwe can find themselves hungry, ill or injured with no access to medical treatment and often not even to adequate food or shelter.
The situation in the country, especially after the controversial elections in August, remains desperate, with inflation once again soaring and millions of Zimbabweans needing food aid. Inevitably, the number of people applying for help from ZANE continues to increase exponentially while our ability to assist is being negatively affected by the many and varied global uncertainties.
Somehow, through all the turmoil and chaos, ZANE Australia has managed to keep going and this is, in no small part, due to the commitment and dedication of our caring donors.
Participants from around the world managed to join Eric De Jong’s “Zanzibar Tour” which saw these valiant explorers ride from Harare to Dar es Salaam then kayak across to Zanzibar — as always Eric’s hilarious blogs were widely shared and enjoyed. As an off-spin of the Old Legs Tours initiatives, we now have two partnerships in Australia – one with Peter Brodie in Western Australia and the other with Mark Johnson in Queensland who has taken on the important work started by Mike and Shelley Mino that has supported SOAP for many years. Fortunately for the recipients in Zimbabwe, most of the SOAP donors have continued to give via ZANE Australia.
These partnerships help us to raise awareness of the plight of the elderly in Zimbabwe and contribute towards the ever more desperately needed funds to support them.
All the extra funds from OLT efforts have been sent through to Zimbabwe and will be used as emergency relief for pensioners found in crisis situations.
Apart from these one-off donations, the generosity and steadfastness of the regular ZANE Australia donors have continued to humble us. Far from falling away, we have in fact witnessed donations holding firm month on month and several times we have been able to send more than our regular monthly transfer of money into Zimbabwe. Apart from the very obvious gratitude of the elderly who have been the beneficiaries, the ZANE teams in Zimbabwe have been uplifted and encouraged in their work knowing that so much goodwill exists and that so many people really do care, translating that care into giving. There are no words to express strongly enough our gratitude to you, our wonderful donors.
We look ahead in the hope that next year will indeed be better and, in the meantime, I extend every good wish for a joyful festive season, and many thanks again for the kindness and generosity of all of you.
Nicky Passaportis
CEO ZANE Australia
Please view the ZANE Summer newsletter.
* Names and images may have been changed for privacy reasons
If you are already a ZANE donor, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If you are not a donor but would like to be, please follow the link below and know that every donation, however big or small, goes directly to where it is most needed. If you would like to help but can’t donate, please join the ZANE family and ‘like’ or ‘share’ our posts or write us a Google review – every positive step helps spread the word about the life changing work ZANE does.
Thank you – Nicky Passaportis ZANE Australia
Please donate to support pensioners struggling to survive in Zimbabwe
Any assistance is greatly appreciated and goes a long way to giving our pensioners a better quality of life and lift the pressure of money worries which is very debilitating emotionally.
(Donations made to ZANE in Australia, are tax-deductible)