The Band of Brothers Vision

The Ministry of Compassion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Abby Vogels
Media Relations
913.271.7478
abby.vogels(at)gmail.com

Compassionate Justice International announces the launch of "Project Aspire: Books for Zimbabwe's Children"

(Kansas City, MO)—(June 24, 2010)— Compassionate Justice International today announced the launch of "Project Aspire." The focus of the initiative is Zimbabwe's teachers and school children, who have been unfortunate victims of the country's declining economic situation.

After being made aware of the dire situation during a meeting with Zimbabwe's Minister of Education, David Coltart, in February, CJI Director Bob Scott visited a number of schools on his recent trip to Zimbabwe in May of this year. Mr. Scott said, "In a nation which has a passion for education, it's painful to see how far things have deteriorated. It's tragic seeing students hungry to learn and teachers ready to teach and yet without the tools to do it." Minister Coltart recently informed Mr. Scott that the last curriculum update in Zimbabwe was in 1982 and that, currently, there is only 1 book per 30 students!

Upon returning to the United States, Mr. Scott began inquiring at school districts around the Kansas City area to find out if they could help with the situation. He was pleased to learn that there were many excellent school books left over from the end of the current school year that were destined to be ground up and recycled. Many of these books are less than 5 years old and in good condition. Local Kansas City educators were thrilled with the prospect of seeing these books not destroyed, but put to good use teaching children. They have enthusiastically supported Project Aspire and have helped get the word out. Mr. Scott was put in touch with a textbook company, which has graciously agreed to donate thousands of books and teaching aids to the project.

The Kansas City school district is in the midst of downsizing, and is closing 20 schools. In an amazing turn of events, the district has decided to donate the libraries of these 20 schools to CJI for Zimbabwe's children. Beginning in late July, the CJI warehouse in Kansas City will begin receiving truckloads of books, enough to fill 4-5 40ft shipping containers. 

According to Mr. Scott, "our biggest hurdle at the moment is raising the funds to get the books to Zimbabwe. We are looking for sponsors to cover the $20,000 per container expense." CJI's plan is to purchase each of the shipping containers and convert them into secure libraries after arrival in Zimbabwe. Most of Zimbabwe's schools have no doors or windows, and, by using the containers, the books will be safe from theft and the weathers. Project Aspire's first container is scheduled to leave Kansas City in Sept. 2010 and arrive in Harare late Dec. This will allow for the container to reach its destination in time for a contingent of teachers, visiting the country in Jan. 2011, to supervise the distribution of the books and the establishment of the library. Depending on funding, a second container is tentatively scheduled to leavefor Bulawayo in October 2010.

About Compassionate Justice International (CJI)
Compassionate Justice Intl. was founded in 2008 by author/humanitarian Bob Scott. Mr. Scott first became involved in Zimbabwe in 1984 through his association with The Community of Reconciliation. The community was a racially integrated agri-based project located 40km south of Bulawayo. On Nov. 25th, 1987, sixteen white members of the community were brutally massacred and the community completely destroyed. This senseless act of violence sent economic development and racial relations in the region back decades. In 2007, Mr. Scott decided it was time the world learned of this extraordinary group of people and their vision for a different Zimbabwe. In conjunction with the release of his book "Saving Zimbabwe: Life, Death & Hope in Africa", Mr. Scott formed CJI as a practical and tangible way of helping Zimbabwe's oppressed poor. The organizations first project launch was a medical supplies initiative called "Compassionate Hands." The project was a huge success as CJI was able to send a 40ft shipping container full of $550,000 of medical supplies that were distributed to faith-based hospitals serving people in Zimbabwe's rural areas. For more information please visit: www.compassionatejustice.com orwww.savingzimbabwe.com