How we started.
The Stratford Community Projects Trust is a community based volunteer organisation whose member meet every second Tuesday to clean and develop our community. The project was started in 2014 as an effort to clean a single road and expanded from there to currently cover half the neighbourhood. What started from very small beginnings of collecting litter from the roads, has grown to incorporate a number of projects including the renovation of the local community clinic, repainting of buildings covered with graffiti, the planting of 70 dustbins, the clearing of dumpsites in the area, the control of vegetation at areas prone to robberies, the reopening of a community football field, and with the residents and City of Harare, either directly or indirectly the repair of roads in ward 18.
MISSION
The trust’s mission is to reach out into the community, to ensure the environment is clean, safe and to develop the community spirit which has been lost over the years.
WHERE DO WE WORK?
Our area covers the area from Carrick Creagh road, to Leamington to Harare Drive to Borrowdale Road. Initially we cleaned weekly but with the effectiveness of our efforts, we have reduced the collection from up to 80 bags of waste a road a week to twenty a week for the entire suburb. The dumpsites we have cleared have remained free from dumping.
WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE?
All of our members have cut themselves on scrap metal, dealt with human excrement, and seen some of the worst sides of the city. And yet, none of the crew complain. We celebrate each small victory and take great comfort in our little family. Truly, these are heros, humble, hardworking and community minded people who put their whole hearts into a not very pleasant job.