Elly and Waddington Raisi won’t be in town for Christmas
this year. Along with their two young daughters, the family will spend the
holiday in Zimbabwe where Waddie grew up and where the couple met. They will
reunite with family members and touch base with Zimboarts Coop, their enterprise
that provides training and permanent work opportunities for Zimbabwean women
struggling to raise their families.
I was fortunate enough to meet this couple, now residents of
Fort Collins, in the course of doing a story for North Forty News. Every year about this time, I have a moment when
the holiday spirit hits. The Raisis did it for me this year.
Zimboarts Coop is thriving and all profits from the sale of
their beautiful beadwork go to supporting their training/work center in
Zimbabwe. The women they serve receive free day care, two meals, and $10 a day
while they learn beadwork, traditionally done only by men in Zimbabwe. There’s
an after school sports program for kids as well.
In Fort Collins, Waddie owns and operates Hollywood Lawn
Service and Elly concentrates on marketing and selling beadwork made by the
women at local craft fairs.
Elly is a Fort Collins native who traveled the world seeking
adventure until she met Waddie in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. He grew up poor and
learned the art of beadworking so well that he was able to support himself well.
He helped Elly out when she experienced a currency crisis while on her travels and
that small interaction changed both of their lives. Their common commitment to
make the world a better place in whatever small way they can binds this couple
together. They function as if it were Christmas all year long.
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