Supporting the Zgambo Dream

Elaine Chan-Scherer is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Please join me in creating a miracle for the Zgambo Family.

In 2018, I traveled to South Africa. In Cape Town, I played with little Derek and met his parents, Alex and Tafwa, who worked at the inn.

We stayed in touch. The pandemic was particularly devastating to Alex and Tafwa because overnight their hospitality jobs disappeared.

Alex returned to Malawi to care for his father and older son. Tafwa stayed in Cape Town picking up work where she could so Derek could continue at his elementary school.

My wish is to give Alex the support he needs to have a viable business and to reunite his family in Malawi.

I want to raise funds to complete a small store where his family will sell crops and other necessities. My hope is that the family will be reunited (Tafwa is still in Cape Town with their youngest son Derek, making money to send to Malawi) and that the store and small mill will provide work and income to feed their family and pay for medical and educational expenses.

GOAL 1:

Raise $2,500 to complete the roof, doors, windows, concrete floors, and two toilets for a small store and rooms for family to stay overnight. (COMPLETED)

During the pandemic, Alex was able to start a farm growing maize, Malawi’s staple food. But the maize needs to be milled, and they don’t have money to get to the nearest mill. I want to raise funds so that Alex can purchase and house milling machines to mill his crops and to mill the crops of struggling farmers for miles around his village.

GOAL 2:

Raise $5500 to buy milling machines, including a building to house the machines. Cost includes a four part milling machine, foundations for machines, concrete floor, labor and transportation. ($2300 raised; we still need $3200)

I love the possibility that together we can help to build a store and a small mill, to create work for Alex and Tafwa, to reunite the Zgambo family, to provide work and grow crops for other hungry neighbors, and to support their

young sons’ educations.

The corn before it is milled-

The maize being harvested

Alex and Derek when they were together in South Africa

A few. of the machines we want to buy-

(If you saw the excellent film on Netflix- The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind, you will understand how it is for this family in Malawi. The film is about Malawi and the characters speak the native language.)

Thanks for reading and for caring. Let’s reunite the Zgambo Family and create sustainable jobs, benefitting them and their community.

Alex and Tafwa’s older son, King-