A little over 6 months ago, we received a letter from a lady (we will call her Mrs C, as her wish is to remain anonymous), whose husband had just booked a holiday to celebrate her birthday in Zanzibar in August. On this, their first trip to Africa, the couple decided to find out as much as they could about their destination and the Zanzibari people. Fortunately for us, and for the community we support, they came across the ZAP website, and contacted us to say that during the months leading up to their visit they were going to go all out to raise funds for ZAP.

Today, which is the day they fly to Zanzibar, we received their 10^th cheque – bringing the total they have raised for us to an astounding – wait for it - £2574 !!!

This is the fruit of incredible and sustained efforts on their behalf and that of their kind clients (Mrs C is a hairdresser) and supportive friends. Events they have organised include raffles, sales of cakes and cards, tea parties, sewing bees and knitting sessions and many more too numerous to mention. They have already sent a huge case of baby clothes and old specs which they collected to Jambiani with Mr Pandu, and are taking two more big cases with them.

We are pleased to report that they will be visiting Jambiani for a couple of days during their holiday and that Mr Pandu is all set to lay down the welcome red carpet for them; they will visit as many ZAP projects as possible, and we are depending on Mr C to take some of his very professional photographs for our website.

It isn’t just the money (the equivalent of approximately £26,000), but Mrs C’s regular letters and encouragement that we value so much, and we hope that they and their generous, warm-hearted friends fully realise the extent to which this sum will make a difference. Mrs C will not reveal the date of her big day, but we hope that she and her husband have an unforgettable holiday – THANK YOU BOTH AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

FIELD TRIP TO ZANZIBAR – August 2008

ZAP Directors, Pat and Janie Preece, recently return from a busy 3 weeks in Zanzibar. Their up-to-the minute Report on all our projects and activities can be found in the most recent ZAP NEWSLETTER – August 2008.

Good news in brief, however:

POWER is fully restored on the island and it seems stronger and less prone to interruption than before. Fingers crossed this state of affairs lasts!

WATER PUMPS

Both water pumps are due to be installed very shortly giving easy access to fresh water for the whole population for the very first time.

VSO – New volunteer Teacher/Adviser Liz Rose settles in well to village life.

ZAP STUDENT ‘FUNDIS’ – Excellent results across the board enable them to stay at their training colleges for a third and final year.

UNIVERSITY GRADUATES – Straight ‘As’ for Makame, and excellent results for Nassra. Both involved in teaching practice at the Skuli until the next University term.

SEWING LADIES go from strength to strength. Good sales enable more investment in materials.

CLINIC becomes well known in the area due to its improved facilities.