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Garden
of Hope
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Success in this country is often measured by wealth and prestige - material means. How’s this for perspective? For those at United Methodist-supported Africa University in Zimbabwe, success means making sure your fellow citizens stay alive. Students like Henry Otieno are trying to plant seeds of hope - literally. | ||
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IT’S DINNERTIME AT THE ORPHANAGE AT THE UNITED METHODIST MISSION IN EASTERN ZIMBABWE. THE WHITE PORRIDGE IS A NATIONAL STAPLE CALLED SADZA. IT’S MADE FROM MAIZE. THE GREEN LEAVES ARE CABBAGES PICKED FROM THE GARDEN OF HOPE.
Nicole Windhurst /Orphanage Director: “It means the promise of food everyday. It means that we don’t have to worry about where our vegetables are coming from.”
EVERY CABBAGE, CORN COB AND CUCUMBER HARVESTED FROM THIS SPECIAL GARDEN HELPS TO FEED THE CHILDREN AT THE ORPHANAGE.
Nicole Windhurst: “In the future, it means a chance for the kids to learn serious agricultural skills.”
THE IDEA TO PLANT THE GARDEN OF HOPE HAD ITS ROOTS IN 1998, WHEN HENRY OTIENO WAS AN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AT THE NEIGHBORING UNITED METHODIST-SUPPORTED CAMPUS OF AFRICA UNIVERSITY. WHEN HE HEARD THAT THE CHILDREN WERE NOT GETTING THEIR NUTRITIONAL NEEDS MET, HE PUT HIS AGRICULTURE STUDIES TO WORK.
Henry Otieno / Africa University: “Generally a child without parents always gets rejects. They always get what has been thrown, what has been left. I feel they should get what belongs to them, what is first-class.”
Nicole Windhurst: “Typically, orphans get the bottom of the barrel. With this they get the cream of the crop.”
Lena Nozizwe, Reporting: “You always have a lot of food here?”
Orphans: Yes!”
Lena Nozizwe: “Is it good food?”
Orphans: “Yes!”
OTIENO IS NOW A GRADUATE STUDENT AT AFRICA UNIVERSITY-BUT HIS STUDY LOAD DOES NOT KEEP HIM FROM PLANTING SEEDS OF INSPIRATION AND HOPE, AND CULTIVATING A BUMPER CROP OF SMILES.