Safari cruise set to ease hardship for Zimbabwean poor
PUMICESTONE Passage may not quite compare to the mighty Zambezi River, but that doesn't matter to charity Zimbabwe Challenge.
The island-based organisation is holding a Safari up the Zambezi and treasurer Tim Dufton wants you to help join in the hunt for Dr Livingstone.
Dr Livingstone is, of course, the famous Scottish explorer credited as the first white man to see, and subsequently name, Victoria Falls.
Mr Dufton said the trip up the "Zambezi" would be a fun way to raise money for a worthy cause.
"We like to have fun on these things, that's why we have a dress-up theme if you want to," he said.
"It's for a good cause and it's going to be a lot fun."
That good cause is the easing of Zimbabwean poverty and hardship.
Zimbabwean-born Mr Dufton visited the country in 2010 with wife Jean, and was shocked by just how difficult life was for many in the country.
"We visited a leper colony and an orphanage and a disabled kids' home," he said.
"There's so much that they don't have and there's no government support.
"When we came back here we started talking about it and people were so generous and started giving us money without us even asking."
The pair quickly worked to legitimise the charity and held their first voyage, up the Limpopo River aboard the "African Queen", last year.
They raised about $1200 from the ferry ride and $10,000 for the year, which went towards starting a piggery for the leper farm.
"We want these people to be self-sufficient," Mr Dufton said.
"They don't want to keep getting handouts and we don't want to keep giving them handouts."
Zimbabwe Challenge is hoping to raise another $1200 with this year's voyage, to go towards its total goal of $20,000 for the year.
Mr Dufton said the money was planned to help buy artificial limbs for children at the school they visited, which had 125 disabled students.
"There's no money there to buy them these artificial limbs.
"(We just want to) get them something so they can kick a football and run and dance and just be like normal kids."
The charity is set to launch a website later this month in an attempt to get Zimbabwean expatriates from around the world behind the cause.
Cruise numbers are strictly limited, with only about 20 left for sale.
For the diary
When: Thursday, November 1, 9.30am-12.30pm
Where: Pumicestone Passage aboard the Ferryman
What: African-themed Devonshire tea cruise including prizes and delicious snacks like biltong and boerewors
Price: $35 a person
Contact: Tim Dufton, 34100542
