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Kufunda Village Project
Bev Reeler
November 06, 2002

Many of you have heard of the Kufunda Village project that was started earlier this year by Marianne Knuth on a farm just outside Harare. 16 young Zimbabweans lived in community for 3 months, looking at themselves, their environment, their connections, their gifts and their ability to move from a place of helplessness to a place of power through self sufficiency and recreating new communities.

At the end of the 3 months the participants left Kufunda to go back to their communities. It has been a difficult step - trying to create self sustaining projects at a time of economic collapse - to maintain their
integrity when youths are being rounded up and initiated into the militia by Border Gezi Youths who presently run rampant throughout the country. What they are doing now takes great courage - stepping out into the world with the belief that we have the power within us to change.

Marianne, on looking at the process from a distance said: "I couldn't have done what we did at Kufunda if there was not the breakdown occurring all around us. The breakdown of a society opens up its people much more fully to themselves, to each other and to the possibility (and need) for another way. The vision, the commitment, the creativity - all of these are far greater today in Zimbabwe, and at Kufunda, than just a couple of years ago".

Working at Kufunda - as a part time facilitator - has been a heart warming experience and I feel very honoured to have been a part of it's unfolding. Amongst other things, it has made clear to me how much potential for healing is in Zimbabwe, and when the time is right, this is the sort of community building that we will need. The possibility of seeing this world through new eyes - the unlimiting eyes of love, acceptance and self responsibility.

New groups will begin next year - both for community leaders and for a second group students participating in a 3 month community experience.

The following are some quotes from the participants at the end of their three months:

Nhamo Chimbwa
To me Kufunda is a well of life where people from the four corners of the world come to drink and never be the same.

Dione Matenje
Kufunda is an Educational Training Centre which focuses mainly on self reliance projects in order for people to sustain their lives.

Caroline Aleshidamba
Kufunda is a home for the kufundees where they live as a family, sharing what they have. A place to practice co-operation, commitment and responsibility A place for self-examination of our strengths, weaknesses and how to turn weakness into strengths. . The students are taught to love one another
and to respect each other and any living creature.

Omega Dumbu
Kufunda is a learning institution which is trying to free young people from the belief that school academics can lead anyone to be a good leader and a self-reliant person. It is an institution where anybody who can read, write and understand is welcome to share their knowledge.

James Mujuru
Kufunda to me is a place of wisdom: first by understanding where I come from, where I am right now, and where I'm going. It is the place of where the clever, sharp mind does not really count, but works from simplicity, understanding our inner self and sharing of wisdom from everybody participating in the programme - to work with oneness, one heart. I wish every Zimbabwean could do what we practice here, for we would attain great living, listening without judgement. We are all humans of the same value.

Tichaona Murungweni
The world is in pain, tears and sorrowfulness and its now time for the great turning, so Kufunda is trying to heal and repair the world in many aspects, harmonizing with nature being the main centre of controversy. Creating a co-operative community out of the present, where we can reconnect with our culture, and take time to talk to the earth.

Yvonne Kapenzi
Firstly, the course was very useful to me because I gained a lot of leadership skills, being responsible for everyone and to live in peace and in harmony especially with nature. I have developed a lot of skills and
knowledge of wisdom for myself to live a more sustainable life and how I could help others. The tree of life made me realize that I had many gifts I can share with others, I didn't know that. The dreams for your future and origins being the roots. A healthy tree brings out healthy fruits.

Elias Mapengo
The project management clearly showed and proved to me that keeping records, profit form and the like can make you see were your business is falling up and down It opened my mind to see were I am going wrong. For self reliance themes e.g. candle, lotion, soap making compost toilets and permaculture, I
thought they were difficult, but they are very simple.

Lawrence Mahuhwe
The programme was so useful to me in the sense that I am now able to run a project own my own foot because I learnt how to keep records, to accept complaint. On the permaculture side I was very touched by how to deal with the depleted soils, how to grow crops without using chemicals, the use of the A-frame when making the contour ridges.

Knowledge Chinema
Silence Bell:- It gives me time to think what I want to do and brings me the truth and love of mankind. My sacred place where I usually go an spent a short time doing journaling, thinking of restoring my culture, how to bring up the young generation. To start to listen to my heart, my deeds in life and at work, to become what I am. Sharing our feelings in the circle makes me feel confident and mainly talking about my dreams.

Wyne Mbande
The medicine walk by Sonia really inspired me, it helped me to connect myself with the earth and to live in harmony with nature and our environment. It also helped me to know who I am, what I am and what I was meant for. It helped me to know what is good and bad, what I should do and not do.

Esther Jena
At Kufunda different communities gathered together sharing knowledge. After each and every person goes back to their communities to teach others. It promotes communalism and its aim is to regenerate our culture while other colleges teach people to be competitive, and only look after themselves.

Silas Lusius
The important things for me were: sitting in a circle, the moment to reflect, a place to meet and to solve
problems. A circle to share whatever is one's mind. Deep ecology, appreciating what is around us to be able to treat them equally. To look at the environment with different lens. To appreciate that it is good to be in harmony with nature rather than against it so that we don't upset the balance. The importance of self-discovery/time alone. I discovered that being alone I can write poems without much trouble. Breathing in and out keeps brings my mind, body and spirit, also helps me to relax, and reduce stress.

Shane Chirumiko
An important learning was the power to speak your heart out openly.

Visit the Kufunda Learning Village fact sheet

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