EcoAfrica Social Ventures

I am starting this post with a photograph taken on the steps of a family home in the township of Chitungwiza which is where Eco Africa workshops are based. You must agree it is extraordinary, like a painting. This image and the others below were taken on Christmas morning 2008 by three women who were among those to whom I handed six disposable cameras, you know, the kind that you shoot, hand the whole camera back to the store for processing and later collect a CD containing the digital images. I asked the women to record some of the ways in which residents of Chitungwiza spend Christmas 2008. There were many other photos taken, also wonderful and these seven I chose as part of our newsletter are the results of a difficult selection process. The artisans themselves wrote the comments beneath the images.

“This is grandmother Nyika and Muzambia. Its’ Christmas for them, dressed for Christmas and enjoying the sun, whilst daughter Edith takes them a photo. Edith is a single mother who has two kids, Peter and Bright. She works at Eco Africa, for the Dolls project, what a joy for them for their daughter to take photos of them. Whilst at work Edith, leaves her two kids with their grandmother”.






This is grandmother Emelda and grandson Lesley, mother to Zaina who works at Eco Africa as a bookbinder. Lesley is Zaina's last born and granny Emelda takes care of him while Zaina is away at work. Granny said she was enjoying Christmas Day, relaxing and being looked after by Zaina who is on holiday. What a Christmas with cameras taking her family”!







Hello! My Name is Hilda Mavhunga and I work as a Project Supervisor for Bookbinding at Eco Africa. I joined Eco Africa since 2003 when it opened its project in our community and ever since I never looked back. I love teaching our ladies how to do books and also do quality checking. Being the project supervisor has change me and my daughter. Being a single mother of one, I can look after my daughter and sisters. Today relaxing at home whilst my daughter plays with her friends, I can safely say thank you EASV for everything. I am coping as a single mother, working and daughter Liana goes to St Alios pre-school”.



This is the husband to January who works for Eco Africa in the dolls project. “Whilst the kids are away at school and wife January is at work, the husband Charles, works as a shoe maker and he enjoys his work. ‘Today I will retire early so that I can enjoy Christmas with my family. I have six pairs of shoes that needs to be repaired urgently as the owners need to wear them during the day as they celebrate Christmas. My wife has made it easy by bring more food from her work place’ “.






Lets share a drink!’, Its Christmas for Fortunate, Hazel and Pamela. Fortunate is the granddaughter of Taiti. Hazel and Pamela are the cousin sisters. They are happy because granny has brought some goodies from work. Taiti Marondera is our Operations Supervisor at Eco Africa and she loves her work very much. Today its Christmas and they are enjoying the day, as granny is preparing the food the whole day. ‘Thanks to EASV for making Christmas special for me, my family and grandchildren’ ”.


“Its Christmas morning for Medaline and Lazarous who are enjoying their breakfast. The mother who works at Eco Africa Papermaking is Pinato Kwenda. She expresses joy because this year she was able to prepare special breakfast for her kids. Whilst their mother is at work, little Lazarous goes to St Alois pre-school and Medaline goes to a local primary school nearby. Pinato gives thanks to Eco Africa Social Venture for all the support they gave them at Christmas time”.






This is Evergeorge, a sister to Ziana and she works for Eco Africa in the Scrapping group. She is preparing tea on this special day while her son, Worship, looks on. She says she likes her culture, kneeling down as she prepares food. Thanks to EASV for making Christmas possible with smiles everywhere”.







The collection reflects the spirit in which the people of Zimbabwe have come to accept with grace the situation in which they find themselves. Chitungwiza was until recently a modest but vibrant township populated with an above average percentage of artists and crafters many making a decent living. Shops offered affordable food, clean water on tap, decent schools, city-wide electrification and regular trash collections - most of which have now failed. The result on lives has been devastating.

Each time I visit Zimbabwe and go to our crafting workshops I am greeted by well groomed women who have made a special effort to be nicely dressed and smiling in welcome. The conditions they return to after work are not apparent to me, and it would be hard for me to insert myself into their home environments to take pictures of how they live. The money they earn at Eco Africa, instead of being used to uplift the standard of living for the individual artisan and her immediate family, almost always goes to maintain the basics of life for up to ten of her unemployed loved ones and extended families. With unemployment above 90% it is hard to climb out of the circle of poverty.

The artistic merit of these selected images is unquestionable. Were they accidents or taken with a natural instinct for composition? The images are un-cropped. Where they needed sharpening a little, or the contrast improved, that is all I have done.

It seems that new amazing artistic talent keeps presenting itself in Zimbabwe. I view the time I spend there is an ongoing journey full of discovery. Zimbabwe’s population has creativity and artistry running through their blood, Around every corner you will come across a sculptor, a wood carver or a wire artist, either tapping away at a block of stone, or a piece of wood, or twisting raw fencing wire into intricate shapes. It seems that art and artistry are what nature compels them to do no matter what – a calling if you will. It defines them. Even as there are few visitors left in Zimbabwe to buy their works, they still chip away at their stone, or twist that wire or carve that block of wood. They know nor desire any other way of life than their art.

Please feel free to contribute any Ideas on how we might use these images to further spread awareness and raise money to purchase food and essentials to keep our crafting communities healthy and free from hunger. An exhibition might be possible for example. We could perhaps commission more photographs.

Friends and supporters, I present a slice of life on Christmas morning 2008 in Chitungwiza.

If you too are moved by these images please consider donating to our food program. Remember, every person with a job supports roughly seven to ten unemployed loved ones. The monthly packages of food and essentials we provide for our artisans are feeding hundreds including their extended families. Just $60 feeds four artisans plus their extended families for a month. Please log on to our website to donate. http://www.ecoafricasocialventures.org. Or checks can be made out to Eco Africa Social Ventures, 306 West 73rd St. # B. New York NY 10023.
Our organization is designated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity and 100% of your contribution is tax deductible according to law.