1. Most of us don’t like the idea of being wrong. Sometimes, though, it is good. I have had this happy experience quite often in Tariro:
   Back in 2013 I met young Fidelis, then a 15 year old and, remembering what I was like at 15, said in a newsletter that he was very nice, but probably rather idle at school. I was immediately rebuked by Fr Mutasa, rightly so. Fidelis was doing well at school. Sure enough, he went on to University in Bulawayo and studied finance and risk management. He then got a job in an insurance firm and is moving steadily up the ladder. He has just moved to their office in Kwe Kwe where he is doing very well. You see him in this photo (left to right Thandeka, Kudakwashe, Sr Praxedes, Jenny and Fidelis). He looks even more impressive in a suit!
2. A good 20 years ago I got to know a scruffy little boy at St Augustine’s Orphanage, Chengetai. Chengetai was always happy, and pleased to see us. He also did nothing in school. When he left primary school after seven years we found he couldn’t read or write! Tariro took him into the house in Harare and sent him to a private tutor. Within weeks he had learned to read and write. First he trained as a chef, which he loved, but there were no jobs. Then the Fellowship of St John gave us money to start a piggery. Chenge was trained up to head this. He has done brilliantly. The last few years have been quite a learning curve for all of us but Chenge is now very experienced and very enthusiastic about his pigs. A priest who visited the project from England this year found Chengetai a hugely impressive person, knowledgeable and full of energy. And Chenge is fun. He always makes us laugh.
3. Priscilla comes from St Francis Nhema. She did well at primary school so Tariro sent her as a boarder to Daramombe. There she conceived the idea of becoming a lawyer. I was not impressed. I didn’t think she was clever enough to succeed in such a demanding profession. Last year she did her A levels and ended up with three As! I was wrong, and I’m glad. She has since moved to the Tariro house in Harare to prepare for university and everyone there finds her delightful. She’s a wonderful example of what the rural kids can achieve with a bit of help.

Thanks to you all
Every day I look at Tariro’s bank account. Sometimes it is cheering as it reaches surprising heights. But then I have to make a transfer to Zimbabwe and it looks worryingly low. However, the part I really enjoy is seeing the list of names of people who donate. Many are good friends of mine, even family. Many are people I know of from CR. Some I have never met yet I know their names because I see them there every month. You have become old friends. We have such a lovely crowd of supporters. Thank you, all of you. And if you haven’t yet started making a regular donation, maybe now is the time to do so.

Nicolas CR