Zimele Trip - March 2010 - Manny Lee

Dear Family and Friends,

In a few weeks, I will be traveling with a team of six from Metro Community Church to the Kwazulu Natal region of South Africa. We will be working with Zimele (www.zimelecommunity.org ), a non-profit organization, that seeks "to free the rural communities of Kwazulu Natal from the poverty cycle by transforming each into a Zimele community able to stand on its own two feet." In Zulu, "Zimele" means "to stand on one's own two feet." The organization's core values are hope, healing, empowerment, justice, community and accountability.

The purpose of our trip is to observe and assist Zimele in establishing a culture of community and independence. Charitable assistance has created a mindset of charity dependence, which has driven the rural peoples into a poverty cycle. Zimele seeks a permanent solution in breaking that cycle by teaching skills and providing resources and tools to enable individuals to improve their own lives in a sustainable manner. Although we cannot expect to change a culture in fifteen days, we will be offering encouragement and building community by visiting the poor and the hurting. Additionally, we will be cooking, cleaning, praying and doing other activities with the people.

This will be a very unique and opportune experience for me. As I learn extensively about the people, the culture and the situation in South Africa, my wish is to affect the peoples' lives there in some way. With the AIDS pandemic and widespread poverty in the rural areas of Kwazulu Natal, it is easy for them to give up. I hope that this trip will open my eyes and broaden my perspective on the world. I truly believe in the work that Zimele is doing and trust that my short time there will make a difference.

As a team, we are fundraising to give a monetary gift to Zimele. The money will go directly toward Zimele's operations (staff, resources, vehicle maintenance, food parcels, tuition for students). I hope to raise at least $1000 for this cause. If you are able to give,

1. Please make a check payable to Zimele USA , and mail it back to me in the enclosed envelope. Please write: Manuel Lee March 2010 in the memo.

2. Donate online by going to http://www.razoo.com/story/Zimele-Trip-March-2010-Manny-Lee

I will be leaving on March 5th and heading back on March 20th.

Thank you for your partnership in this endeavor.

Sincerely,

Manny Lee