This granny is caring for five of her grandchildren. Without Kufusa Mari she does not know how they would survive184

Since 2001, when ASAP began offering Village Savings and Lending (VS&L) training in eastern Zimbabwe, the country has been in economic decline. The currency, the Zimbabwe Dollar, was devaluating rapidly until 2009 when the USD was adopted. ASAP's first two-year VS&L pilot project, funded by the McKnight Foundation, aimed to to improve the household security of 3,025 women. This target was surpassed by over 2,000. Field Officer Joseph Miti, now Program Manager, reported at the time, "There are so many people that want savings club training; there is not enough of us to go around!" To read the external project impact report click here.

After two years, 85 percent of savings club members continued to meet regularly

In 2005, two years after ASAP's first pilot project ended,the McKnight Foundation funded a second VS&L project in the same area to fill the unmet demand. First, a sustainability survey was carried out and revealed that 85% of clubs formed in 2003 were still active after two years. To read the sustainability survey click here. Hyper-inflation made this project very challenging! Savings clubs learned to save "assets" - such as sugar, salt and cooking oil - instead of the currency, with was rapidly loosing value. Price controls and severe shortages of all commodities were obstacles that had to be overcome but savings club members managed to prosper even in these desperate times.

In ASAP's Joint Initiative partnership wth CARE, urban women in savings clubs are realizing great profits

Today, by working together with partners, ASAP is helping to improve the household security of over 32,000 under-privileged families in Zimbabwe today. Please click on each of ASAP's project partners, CARE , Plan International , CRS, and Concern World Wide, to learn more about each of these projects.

In 2009 ASAP replicated the VS&L project model in the southern region of Malawi. The 'Chimvano Pa Chuma' (Unity for Economic Growth) project will enhance the household and food security of over 7,000 families. Cordaid, FIMA and the International & Sundance Pay It Forward Foundations have invested in ASAP's pilot project in Malawi. ASAP has established a partnership with Total Land Care, a Malawi based organization affiliated to Washington State University, for the Agricultural Component of the project.

ASAP's Joseph Miti takes NCA delegation from Darfur out to the field to gain experience

In July 2009 ASAP's Zimbabwe team was delighted to share their insight and experience with a delegation from the Norwegian Church Aid-Darfur Program (NCA-DP). Through the expertise gained from ASAP Africa in Zimbabwe, the NCA-DP returned home to Sudan and is working to build the income and food security of internally displaced persons in the South and West Darfur region today. ASAP is proud to be a part of such a positive humanitarian effort.