Vimba 2011 Summer Garden Party

Vimba's 3rd annual Summer Ball was held on the 20th August in Wandsworth Common, South West London.  The enchanting setting for the garden party was the restuarant Le Gothique inside the Grade II listed Gothic masterpiece, the Royal Victoria Patriotic Building.  The evening started with a champagne reception on the lawn of the beautiful courtyard where one could observe the elegantly dressed 108 guests arriving.  Champagne flowed, friends caught up and new acquaintances were formed in the evening sunlight with the background African music from two talented mbira players Linos Wengara Magaya from Zimbaremabwe .

While seated under the courtyard marquee a delicious three-course meal was served including an exotic chicken and mango salad, a cut of roast lamb with mint jus and a liqueur doused pear sorbet.  Shay Pio, Sponsorship coordinator and African Liaison for Vimba, the master of ceremonies, introduced an amazing array of speakers.  Vimba's current and future projects were conveyed by James McDowell, our Sponsorship coordinator.  He described the impact that previous donations have made to enabling Vimba to feed over 200 children every day of the week, provide clean drinking water and develop community involvement in education within the three current feeding centres.  James introduced Vimba's future project at Dewe school where only a few children attend school due to inability to pay the school fees, the poor accessibility and quality of drinking water and the infrequency of the children’s provision of meals.  He highlighted Vimba’s plans to provide drinking water through either a water tank or a borehole, provide daily meals and help with improving the facilities of the school. 

Betty Makoni, from Girl Child Network, was our inspiring guest speaker of the evening. Betty is a Zimbabwean gender activist who founded the Girl Child Network, which cares for Zimbabwe's young sex abuse victims; the organization has rescued more than 35,000 girls.She earned two degrees from the University of Zimbabwe, and has been awarded numerous national and international awards. Betty gave a confronting yet heart-warming speech about her upbringing, endeavours and achievements to overcome her situation and to help the vulnerable children of Zimbabwe.  She expressed the importance of education and the life-changing value that can come from donations made to organisations such as Vimba. The auction was entertainingly facilitated by Richard Pio who auctioned off several donated items including, two paintings, an African mask, rugby and football tickets, signed sports shirts, a holiday voucher and several other items.  Very generous donations were made from several people, specifically Stephen Atkinson who donated the high school fees for a whole year for twins, Leona and Leonie!

It was a very successful evening indeed with many new friendships, business associations and Vimba prospects formed.  In total more than £5000 was raised which is an amazing achievement and credit must go to all of our incredibly dedicated supporters.  The Vimba team is so appreciative of people's generosity and support and looks forward to making progress with new projects and continuing to empower the young generation of Zimbabwe.   

For pictures of the event please click here