Larry Kies began his missionary work in Zimbabwe after a two-year stint with the Peace Corps
Teen raises money for impoverished school
By EMILY CHRISTENSEN, Courier Staff Writer
RURAL WATERLOO --- Like most 16-year-olds, Ben Kies is enjoying the last of his winter vacation.
But unlike most of his peers, this teen will return to school at the end of this month in a country rife with political turmoil and suffering through an economic depression.
Kies has lived in the African nation of Zimbabwe for nearly 10 years as the child of missionary parents. He is spending his winter break with his father's family in rural Waterloo. He came to Iowa around Thanksgiving hoping to earn a little spending money working on his family's farms. His mission changed after several e-mails from his mother described the problems within his school district back home in Mutare.
"The school is changing its syllabus," Kies said, his English accent revealing his mother's heritage and his upbringing. "They don't have enough funds to do so, but they are being forced to buy new books. If they don't have enough money to buy the books, they have to buy one and make photocopies for everyone."
Now, Kies is hoping to raise more money to purchase books. With the value of the Zimbabwe dollar plummeting --- the exchange rate is about 8,000 Zimbabwe dollars for one American dollar on the black market --- the financial burden of new textbooks coming from England is almost impossible to bear.
"If the money doesn't get raised it's not like here where we have other methods of getting money," said his aunt Mona Rottinghaus. "There, they just go without."
In addition to educational woes, the country is facing problems in nearly every facet of life. During the first free elections in 1979, the nation chose Robert Mugabe as the first prime minister. He was given the title of president in 1987.
His chaotic land redistribution campaign caused an exodus of white farmers and crippled the economy in 2000. In 2002, Mugabe gained national attention for rigging the elections to ensure his re-election.
Kies' parents, Larry and Jane, have worked as missionaries throughout the struggling nation for about a decade. Larry Kies graduated from Don Bosco High School in 1971 and from Iowa State University in 1975. He began his missionary work after a two-year stint with the Peace Corps. The couple is living in Mutare and working on a university campus. Larry teaches farming techniques and animal husbandry to his students while Jane teaches in the classroom.
Rottinghaus said all the money collected will be given to her brother, who will in turn give it to the school, called Hillcrest College. About 400 students attend the school, which is similar to an American high school.
"Education is the key to change," Rottinghaus said. "If we can help furnish these books, these kids can get the proper education they need. So many times we wonder what we can do to help. This is something."
