The original vision of this endeavor was for a community based, supported, sustainable land based project in Eastern, rural Zimbabwe. Community engagement, agricultural initiative and skills based trainings have the potential to help create new infrastructure in the form of local job opportunities, a space for cultural exchange and, ultimately, a new source of hope. Recent reflection with the Community resulted in a desire to conceptualize this space as a “Learning Center”, a hub where people come to converse, learn and work toward community development, sustainability and networking. The intent of this Center has many different levels and aspects but one main goal is to harvest an awareness of the potential that lies within this community, in and of itself.

The aim is to create a space to start conversations that can lead to healthy community development; create a new way for people to work together, closer to the earth and animals, and from that work, build deeper relationships with one another that will perhaps fulfill a wish for a more integrated, supportive community where no one is left to fend for themselves.

Rimbi is a rural township of about three-thousand located at the base of a small string of mountains that separate Zimbabwe from Mozambique.  It is primarily a farming community with approximately five-hundred hectares of farmable land.  There are several small grocery store businesses in the township, each of which sell pretty much the same goods and their sales depend on family loyalty.  These things are part of what makes life in Rimbi interesting.

I believe that this initiative will enrich the spirits of everyone in the community.  I see the Learning Center as a foundation for social change to take place; a meeting point for healthy interaction and positive community collaboration.  Being able to pour all their preexisting knowledge and hard work into something new, that even has the ability to feed their families, will be a great source of hope and excitement.

(Go to Latest – Letters to All to learn about recent and exciting updates from Silas about the Learning Center!)