New geckos and ornaments have arrived!/ The Gecko Story

by Sue Janetti - 2008 February

Hello once again,
Re: Project Gecko

I am happy to tell you that the new geckos and ornaments have arrived!

The children worked with great enthusiasm when they heard of all the love that poured in, in the way of support from Canada. We in fact had to insist on some rest time and arranged for some teenage help to get the order filled. Isn’t that exciting.

You may pick up your gecko at Tiggy Winkles Art Studio
12185 Beecher Street, Crescent Beach. Please call first as they are not open every day. 604-541-8322.

Or contact me at home 604-531-3654.

Some of you did not require more geckos. However thought you may like to read the story below.

If you decide you do not want to read further. I would like to ask if you could send the new “project gecko” website to all on your email list encouraging them the send to their friends and so on…

www.zimbabwegecko.com you will be able to see and read what your generosity has done so far.

For those of you who may be interested I would like to tell the Gecko Story to you. I have been touched greatly by what has happened in the past month. Even as I sit here typing I am close to tears remembering. I in no way want people to feel that I am manipulating or using this new story to get you to purchase or donate more. I just want to share what I think is a miracle at work. The rest is up to you.

I started selling my art work to raise funds for Zimbabwe a few years ago; I used many opportunities but never advertised. I have helped many organizations such as Semiahmoo House Society and Childcare Worldwide with fundraiser dinners (I do the catering and organization) for a 10% share going to Zimbabwe. 100% of what I raise from art or donations is always sent to Zimbabwe for a project.

Then, a friend of mine John Milne came back from a trip to Africa. He told a story to several of us sitting around a breakfast table. He told of how he had come across three children approximate age of 8, 9, and 10 on a bush path whilst out walking. “They were a sorry sight and their feet were covered in sores” I asked what they were doing? said John. “Digging for our meal”. EARTH WORMS!

I knew right away when I heard that story I needed to do more. But what? A couple of months later my brother visited from Zimbabwe bringing with him a little wire gecko as a gift for me. After I had admired it he told the story of the street kids making and selling them but now the tourist trade had almost vanished and the usually resourceful children were running out of ideas on how to survive. Mostly, because all but the very rich are struggling to survive.

I gave him some money and asked if he could send some over to Canada and I would do what I could to help. I received a hundred geckos. 9 friends all took 10 each to take and promote sales and soon I had $1500 to send home. Some donated the asked for $10, some gave more.

I sent for more; this time instead of geckos Christmas ornaments were the plan as that was what these resourceful children had decided. Zimbabwe folk had enough geckos but Christmas was coming!

The decorations were supposed to arrive in September giving me time to get them out to friends willing to do the same as last time but they only arrived just before Christmas. We received donations for a few but I knew we were in trouble if this is what the children were relying on to eat and live.

What was not revealed in the newspaper article that drew so much love and attention is how it all came about.

A long-term friend Trudy Beyak came back into my life for a while. (I had not seen Trudy for at least 5 years) I gave her a helping hand with a project and she wanted to pay me. My answer was no, I didn’t want to be paid but perhaps she would like to donate to Zimbabwe children by taking an ornament. She of course agreed and asked many questions about the ornaments and the children.

Trudy is a newspaper reporter for the Abbotsford News. She went home and wrote the article many of you saw and responded to that was in the Peace Arch News and The Surrey Leader. She then phoned P.A.N only to find an old friend she had gone to school with was the editor. The article was put on the front page.

The communities of White Rock and Surrey responded. Almost all ornaments were spoken for in three days. Wow!

Jackie Neufeld of Tiggy Winkles Art Studio in Crescent Beach said “Let me help. Folk can pick up their orders from our shop.” What a blessing this turned out to be. I smile when I think of 9 or 10 folk at a time lining up at the door. Jackie’s students must be thanked too for being so willing to have the interruption for the sake of the children. I really don’t know how we would have managed without this help. Thank you Jackie, Joan and Ramona.

A follow article was written by the PAN with even more orders coming in. Good hearted folk who took the opportunity for generosity.

We have orders from folk of up to 200 ornaments for Christmas gifts for employees. One lady, Diane Readings from the Toronto Dominion Canada Trust Bank took a hundred and as she gives them as encouragement gifts will challenge the receiver to do the same. Some folk gave a whole month’s savings for one gecko and happily supported the children. One gentleman gave $1,000.00. I told him I was unable to give a tax receipt and he gave anyway. I have so many stories of generosity in my heart and head and I have met and made friends with many lovely people.

But that wasn’t the end. Savvas Kyriakides of WSI Internet Consulting and Education www.savvywsisolutions.com saw how he could help and donated his time and expertise to donate and develop our new website What a gift! He is not only designing the site for us but maintaining it as well. What generosity! A man who will do this for children has to be an honest and fair business man.

If you decide you want to help further please forward this letter and my website to all your friends and encourage them to be a part of “project gecko” and ask them to forward to all on their e mail list. Let’s see if other parts of the world are as generous as those in White Rock and Surrey. Perhaps some ex Rhodesians ( Zimbabweans ) will also take the challenge. The website address is www.zimbabwegecko.com There is also a Blog site set up for comments, questions and updates on how the children and benefactors of the donations are doing in Zimbabwe. http://zimbabwegecko.blogspot.com/ The two sites will be merged to one soon..

More surprises: I have been asked to speak in many seniors homes or day programs . Some of the residents have decided to add their generosity to my list of heros.

STILL MORE: My husband Frank and I attended the South West African Mission annual dinner. It was being held at the church we attend. When we arrived we were greeted at the door by Dr Lorens Peroud he is the chairman of the board for SWAM in Canada. He also happens to be my doctor. I approached him later in the evening and asked if there was any way I could join with SWAM as I was receiving large donations from “project gecko” and needed to be accountable to people and in particular wanted tax receipts for these generous folk. After a short discussion his answer was “no” as SWAM does not go into Zimbabwe.

Later that evening Joco Jacobs, CEO and Director of swam who now lives in Namibia, announced to the surprise of the local directors that they were thinking of going into Zimbabwe with relief aid but as yet didn’t know anyone on the ground there. I felt like jumping up there and then and shouting “we do, we do”. To cut a long story short a meeting was held the next day with Frank and I joining up with Swam. We will start an advisory board with the intention of raising funds for the relief fund of SWAM. Relief packs, most probably consisting of a blanket, soap, candles and food will be sent to those in need of relief. We are also very aware of and will support seniors and other folk in need of support that are not of African decent.

Project Gecko will continue as a separate entity. However if someone wants to make a larger donation and requires a tax receipt we will ask them to make it payable to SWAM relief fund.

To facilitate supporting SWAM Frank and I have set up an advisory Board. We already have 10 volunteers with another 5 thinking about joining us. And yet another 6 are already putting their names down to do some of the labor or grunt work. Ideas of golf tournaments, garage sales, chocolate sales and seeking corporate sponsorship are rushing through our minds. We have great expectations and are not limiting how many lives this new avenue will touch, benefit, or save.

If you want to be a part of the golf tournament or any other fundraiser or perhaps have a fundraiser idea to share or help with please goes to the web site or BLOG page (above) and contact us. My e mail address is oneagleswings@telus.net We are of course very interested in Corporate Sponsorship and would be pleased to meet or chat with you.

There were many other surprises that came from the newspaper article. I was asked to speak on CBC radio. Burnaby radio. Both of which brought awareness of the plight in Zimbabwe.

The White Rock Elks club donated 12 soccer balls after Senga Corliss had her heart touched reading about the children happily playing with newspaper wrapped into a ball. Senga got the Elks to donate the balls with little persuasion needed. Frank and I were invited to their Valentine’s Dinner dance where the balls were presented to us. We had a lovely time dancing and meeting the very sociable crowd. Not only did they give the soccer balls but now have other ideas they want to put heart to and raise some funds to send as well . They do a lot for charities and each other is my guess. We plan to return.

I have left out part of the journey for fear of being too long winded. However I am sure you will know that this was and is a blessed journey with an unknown ending or final destination. We will wander the paths with great expectation until the road comes to an end.

Blessings to all who have contributed to my joy, and touched the lives of many with your generous spirit.

Sue Janetti

P.S. If you do not want to stay on a mail list for future updates please let me know and I will take you off immediately. So many have asked to stay in touch but I have lost track of the names. Please accept my apologies if it is not your wish to read more. My intention is for information sharing.