The 35 photographs were taken by Hazel-Ann Morris, a member of the Littlehampton Quakers, who visited the Hlekweni Quaker Rural Services Centre with her daughter Blossom in 2005 and again last year.

They hope to return in November, and are in regular contact with the centre, in the African bush 10 miles from Bulawayo, which provides vital educational services and skills training.

Hazel-Ann, an artist, added a splash of colour to the centre by painting murals on shabby, dilapidated buildings; the vibrant pictures will now stand out even more after 80 per cent of the grazing land owned by the facility has been reduced to scorched earth by "invaders" illegally attempting to claim plots. Animals, equipment and fences have been stolen or destroyed.

"All this has hindered the work of the centre," said Hazel-Ann, who lives at Elmer, "but they have kept going. They recently held a weekend looking at alternatives to violence, which is so encouraging, in a country where violence is seen as the way to get things done. When the country finally gets back on its feet, they will be in an ideal situation to build for the future."

Moral high ground

Mercifully, given the violence elsewhere, no one at the centre has been attacked.

Hazel-Ann is keen to return in spite of the trouble in Zimbabwe, but accepts that, at the moment, with food scarce for the people living there, she could be a burden on them. She is, however, very impressed with the reaction of many ordinary Zimbabweans in the face of violence and intimidation from Mugabe's Zanu PF party.

"I don't understand how the regime has hung on for so long, and how people have for so long resisted going into revolt, but the MDC (opposition party) has kept the moral high ground.

"Short term, I think the future is not good, but there's such a will to chance once he is out of the way. The fact it hasn't descended into civil war says a lot about the country. That is a sign of hope. They are not a naturally belligerent people.

"They don't want to be at war. They want to go back to being a prosperous and self-sufficient country. They use to be one of the best educated countries in Africa."

Enthusiastic

As well as brightening up the centre, Hazel-Ann worked as an art teacher in a nearby primary school ,with Blossom, now 14 and a student at St Philip Howard Catholic High School, Barnham, as her classroom assistant, using a large suitcase full of art materials they had taken with them.

"The children were so enthusiastic! Their work was inspiring, covering the walls and spilling into other rooms. The teachers joined in and worked just as keenly."

Twice a week, they also held evening classes in art, for trainee builders, farmers and metalworkers, who were taught altogether different skills of cutting paper flowers, making felt pictures or drawing with crayons.

"I was deeply moved by the warm-heartedness of the Zimbabwean people, and their willingness to reach out to the outside world.
"I feel I have made real friends there and that my work will continue on future visits."

Any money raised from admission to the exhibition, at the Friends' Meeting House, Church Street, from 10am-10pm, will go towards the centre's work.

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