Village Project
As part of an ongoing environmental / agricultural project in Zimbabwe, ACA introduced simple water level technology to realign hillside stone terraces. Projects such as this are designed to use appropriate technology and contribute to sustainable development.
The appropriate technology in this case consists of lengths of clear plastic tubing attached to sticks and filled with water, making a leveling tool that cannot break and is easily duplicated. The project also is sustainable in that it puts the water breaks on a level contour, reducing water runoff, soil erosion, and gullying while improving crop yields. Our group worked side by side with Zimbabwean agricultural extension workers and local villagers to begin realigning these walls.
| ACA tour participants are required to arrange a charitable donation of their own.
Appropriate donations include educational materials, such as: complete sets of
encyclopedias, sets of textbooks or other reference books, functional old computer systems
(including monitor). Non-functioning computers are also valuable in that ACA can use them
for parts.
These donations are surprisingly easy to obtain through businesses, libraries, schools, and private sources. ACA provides its tax exemption number to these donors so that the gifts are tax deductible. Many participants also choose to bring additional donations for the purpose of delighting the children. In an area where children make their own toys from bottle caps, inexpensive factory made dolls are of significant value. |
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In addition to providing donations though tour participants, ACA arranges for American schools to adopt sister schools in Africa. ACA representatives travel to schools in the United States giving presentations on Africa and creating ties to African schools. The American schools correspond with, as well as send materials to, their sister schools in Africa. Book drives expand most African school libraries by at least ten times their current size. ACA coordinates all shipments and lends assistance to maintain these operations. Adopt-a-School projects can also be arranged for church groups, social groups, and other organizations. |
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