Vocational skills training are one of the activities originally included in the Out of School Adolescents project partnership between ASAP and Catholic Relief Services. Due to budget cuts, worthwhile and much need activities like this one had to be eliminated.

It is only because the ground work has been done through ongoing project activities that ASAP can offer this life changing training so cost effectively. Participants are eager and ready to learn. With your help, they will succeed! Please read about the project below.

Attachments:

• The Out of School Adolescent Project Partnership (PDF)
  

This project moves along in spite of the cut in funding. ASAP is providing training in micro-finance for these youth and plans are still in place to train in various skills that can produce an income. This project goes along with placing girls back in school because everything is really linked. In the end ASAP's goal is to provide the basic life skills for these youth to survive in a very harsh environment.

Please consider a donation to help ASAP change lives.

The attached report highlights the need for Vocational Skills. This project partnership was funded through UNICEF and partners are working to achieve the National Plan of Action for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, the funding originally earmarked for education and training were used for Cholera prevention in 2008. By donating today, you can help children gain the skills needed for a future full of hope and promise.

Pictures:

• Children celebrate graduation at a field day in Mutasa District (JPG)

Attachments:

• Project Report from July from Zimbabwe (PDF)
  

We are happy to share our current newsletter with you.

Attachments:

• Newsletter09_summer.pdf (PDF)
  

In Zimbabwe, where the unemployment rate is nearly 90%, vocational skills and survival skills are synonymous. By giving to this project, you will be helping families do so much more that survive - they will thrive!

These young people are already actively involved in ASAP's rural micro finance project, funded through Catholic Relief Services. This gives them access to the capital required to put their newly acquired vocational skills to work, transforming lives. Providing hope for the future. Please donated today

Pictures:

• A Graduation ceremony for Out of School Adolescents (JPG)
• June 25 2009 celebration of success (PNG)

To date 1,453 out of school adolescents have attended training in internal savings and lending and school fees have been provided for 904 or these young people. We are asking for your donation to provide hands-on vocational skills training to eager and worthy participants.

This project is part of a three year project partnership between ASAP and Catholic Relief Services in Zimbabwe. During these times of tight budgets, the funding for the vocational skills training portion of this project had to be cut – yet it is such an essential and vital aspect of this project that will provide children in desperate circumstances with hope for the future. Please give youth in Zimbabwe skills that will last a life time by supporting this project.

Pictures:

• Out of School youth attend rural training sessions in Zimbabwe (PNG)