Thanks and the End

This study trip was only possible because many people were committed to bringing the Zimbabwe Project into reality.

Therefore, there are numerous supporters to whom we would like to express our deepest gratitude. We are proceeding in chronological order, starting in June 2022.

First and foremost, of course, we must mention Faye Eggert! Dear Faye, without your initiative, your contacts and your commitment, this project would not have been possible! Unfortunately, you couldn't be there all the way through, but in our hearts you were there until the end. You and your personal and scientific perspective have shaped the entire project much more than you probably think. Many thanks to you!

We would also like to thank Gerd and Bigi Eggert. Your support, your incredibly large network and your reflections were essential for the success of the field trip!

If we continue in chronological order, we would then like to thank the numerous supportive people at the University of Potsdam who, with great commitment and resourcefulness, have minimized the financial and bureaucratic obstacles for us so that we were able to overcome them. On behalf of all university supporters, we would like to mention Katharina Biermann (Department of Budget and Procurement), Gesa Ebener (Department of Geography), Kirstin Menzel (Dean's Office of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences) as well as Silke Brodersen, Kia Kettmann and Julia Wilfurth (International Office).

Our project also received dedicated support from outside university. We would like to thank Ricardo Fröh from Travelpoint Potsdam for his professionalism and reliability regarding the arrangement of our flights. We would also like to thank the representatives of the Zimbabwe Netzwerk e.V. and the speakers of the webinar series. Their inputs were very informative and inspiring for the preparation of our study visit. We hope that we can return the favour with a diverting webinar on June 6, 2024 and an interesting article for the magazine.

The great support we received from our cooperation partners in Zimbabwe was overwhelming, extraordinarily productive, friendly and very appreciative. We would therefore like to thank ...

... Rory Pilossof and his team for introducing us with such rich perspectives to the goals and challenges of MyTrees (http://mytreestrust.org/) in the face of climate change in Zimbabwe right at the start;

... Albert Manyani and his colleagues from Bindura University (https://www.buse.ac.zw/faculties/science/geogra...) for the very warm welcome, the presentations of their latest research projects and the informative group tour across the Bindura campus (https://www.buse.ac.zw/);

... the team at Daisy's Guesthouse (http://www.daisysguesthouse.co.zw/) for their excellent support during our first days in Harare and Zimbabwe; ... Willard Gaviyao and his colleagues from Hartzell Secondary School, who showed us around their school despite adverse circumstances and who gave us a first insight into geography as a school subject in Zimbabwe;

... Richard Makoni, Andrew T. Manyawu and their colleagues as well as the students of the College of Social Sciences, Theology, Humanities and Education at Africa University (https://africau.edu/college/cssthe/), with whom we experienced a refreshing, intensive and very productive exchange on the global climate crisis. Some of our students are still in contact with their fellow students from Africa University;

... John Sanchura (https://www.instagram.com/sarutheone/?next=/nas...), who, being a geographer himself, showed us around Mutare, brought us to the local radio and newspaper station and patiently answered all our questions in the scorching heat. He also deserves special thanks for establishing contact with Africa University back in 2023;

... Evans Magumise and his project team, who professionally introduced us to the varied activities of SIMUKAI (https://www.facebook.com/SimukaiMutare/?locale=…www.simukaicpp.org.zw) and showed us how they combat the effects of climate change with their activities in people's everyday lives;

... Leonard Bwanya, Bright Kadonzvo and the team from Musangano Lodge (https://www.musangano.com/), who arranged contacts for us and provided us with five days of great accommodation and first-class meals;

... Last and once again Faye, who prepared so carefully and eventfully and who accompanied our particularly educational stay in Mahenye. We will remember Mahenye fondly for a long time to come. For many participants, Mahenye was the highlight of our tour - Thank you for making it possible;

... the many community members in Mahenye who welcomed us openly and friendly and who gave us an important and eye-opening insight into their everyday lives. We truly learned something here. Thank you very much!

... Sabine Baumann, Lloyd Yeatman and their staff at Mwachumeni Camp Mahenye (https://www.myguidezimbabwe.com/accommodation/s...). They created the important organizational framework for us so that our days in Mahenye could be so productive;

... Tracy and Amanda from The Residence Masvingo, who provided us with a modern accommodation in Masvingo for our day trip to the impressive ruins of Great Zimbabwe;

... Sifelani Jabangwe, Ishmael Moyo, Tinashe Pikirai, their colleagues as well as the geography students from Hillside Teacher College Bulawayo, with whom we laughed a lot and had a very open and honest exchange about the unequal causes and consequences of climate change. We learned a lot from them about the important role of teachers in the communities;

... Tendai D. Matekenya from the Matopos Research Institute (http://www.drss.gov.zw/, site is not always available) and Martin P. Moyo from the International Crops Research Institute for the SemiArid Tropics (ICRISAT - https://www.icrisat.org/), who welcomed us with their students, PhD students and staff and gave us a full day's insight into the important field-based work of their research institutions; .

.. Gilmore and his guide, through whom we got to see the very well preserved cave paintings in Matopos National Park, who showed us the magical view on the ‘World View’ and who gave us the unique opportunity to observe a rhino in the wild;

... Lynn and her staff at Lynn's Guesthouse (https://lynnsguesthouse.com/), whose loving care and beautiful garden created a wonderful space for us to discuss our experiences together. We would especially like to thank Lynn for opening important doors and making contacts for us in Bulawayo since February 2023. Dear Lynn, Thank you so much for this;

... Blessing and the team at Victoria Falls Backpacker (https://www.victoriafallsbackpackers.com/). Thank you for providing us with such a beautiful place for our last two days in Victoria Falls;

... Oanis Moyo, our reliable and professional driver, who drove our group safely over all roads and sand tracks for more than three weeks, skilfully avoiding all potholes and always keeping his stoic calm during police controls. Thank you Mr. Moyo for the many helpful tips for us to better understand everyday life in Zimbabwe and for always being reliable, taking care of the "kids" like a father;

... Gerd Antepohl and Julia Krämer from Incorporate Image GmbH (http://www.incorporateimage.de/), who accompanied us every step of the way with their camera to capture and document the important, everyday-life, memorable and spectacular moments of our study project. Dear Gerd, dear Julia, you have given our project a very special quality through your curiosity, your enthusiasm, your camera perspective and, last but not least, through your noticeable and infectious passion for Zimbabwe. Thank you for your excellent work. It was a "final score" that you were there;

... Alina, Anne, Arne, Björn, Ella, Erik, Ida, Johanna, Jonathan, Josephine, Kea, Kira, Lea B., Lea P., Marie L. and Marie Sch., you impressed, inspired and touched us again and again when we saw how you got involved with the people, the country and its challenges, how curious and open you were and how each of you contributed to this study trip with your very different strengths and qualities. Thank you for your trust, your motivation, your commitment, your mutual support and also your patience and flexibility when things didn't go as expected. Thank you for singing 😀, for your (sometimes weird) humour, the critical thinking, the perseverance, for being an adult, thinking along, holding back individual needs, for keeping calm, the many clever thoughts, for the desire to keep asking good questions, for the unobtrusive work in the background, for the many beautiful photos, for taking responsibility and last but not least for the social and scientific down-to-earthiness. Thank you also for the trust and openness you have shown us in personal conversations. We would have loved to have been on the road with you even longer!

Finally, we would like to thank all our friends, relatives and acquaintances who followed our study visit with interest. We were extremely pleased that you took part in our study trip from afar and gave us feedback. Thank you very much!Lue lisää