Chatting with Scott Byington, Founding member of the Elias Fund

When we think about modern day Zimbabwe, it is usually a thought of catastrophic existence of men, women and children crossing the border into neighboring South Africa as a means of escape from a tragic reality, well, at least that was my thought in early 2008 when I met hundreds of Zimbabwean refugees fleeing into South Africa, agonizing over where their next meal would be coming from.  My heart poured out that day.  Over the next few months that followed, I had spent a considerable amount of time connecting with refugee services globally, in trying to understand how to improve the situation for Zimbabwean refugees, who were really, quite honestly, in a very real and desolate situation.  Fortunately, the situation has improved somewhat, but not by much.

I was intrigued when I came across the website for The Elias Fund.  They understood some of what I had experienced, having met with refugees from Zimbabwe.  Scott Byington, a very courageous embodiment of an individual drawn to the sufferings of the Zimbabwean people, is who opened up my eyes to a world of how we really can make a positive difference in Zimbabwe.  The idea of The Elias Fund initially started as a fundraiser for Elias Sithole, a gardener in Zimbabwe who dreamed that his three children may one day go to university.  His dream traversed the Atlantic and impassioned brothers Scott and Eric Byington to bring more awareness to the situation, as well develop integral educational programs, including starting the Albert Street School in South Africa for Zimbabwean refugees.  Take a look at my interview with Scott in the below link: The Elias Fund Radio Interview  
For more information on The Elias Fund, see The Elias Fund