Local Shopping, Global Impact: See our Market’s Impact in Zimbabwe

When you shop at Capital Region Farmers Market, you’re not only supporting local farmers. You’re part of a community that reaches far beyond Canberra’s borders, creating real change in places you might never visit. 

Emma Bell, a member of the Rotary Club of Hall, recently travelled independently to the Watch Village community in Zvimba, Zimbabwe, to witness first-hand the impact of a project close to home. 

Clean water, changed lives 

The visit followed generous project donations of $5,000 from the Rotary Club of Hall and $500 from the Rotaract Club of Canberra. These funds made possible the drilling of a bore and the installation of a generator to support the village and its community facilities. 

The improvements have transformed daily life. The village now has access to clean water, reliable electricity, functioning health clinics, community programs for children and families, and stronger support for farming and local employment. 

But for Emma, the most powerful observation wasn’t about what the project provided. It was about what it allowed the community to stop worrying about. 

“The impact was not about what was missing, but that people were just living their lives,” Emma reflects. “They were no longer worried about water or electricity and could focus instead on basic things like washing their hands, cooking and running community engagement programs together.” 

The ripple effect of shopping local 

All profits raised by our Market are distributed back into the community by our Founders, the Rotary Club of Hall. The Club then helps support projects such as the Watch Village bore and generator installation. It’s a powerful reminder that everyday choices at home, from shopping at the Market to supporting your local Rotary Club, can change lives across the world. 

When you pick up your fresh vegetables, honey, or flowers on a Saturday morning, you’re contributing to a network of community support that extends from Dickson to Hall, to Zimbabwe and beyond. 

Next time you’re at the Market, know that you’re part of something bigger. Your local shopping choices are helping communities like Watch Village focus less on survival and more on thriving.