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PROVIDENCE ORPHAN AND CAREGIVERS
PROJECT 2004 MILESTONE REPORT
“Pure
and undefiled religion in the
sight of the God the Father is
this: to look after orphans and
widows in their trouble…” James
1 vs 27
INTRODUCTION
The year 2004 was challenging
but with God’s help and guidance
and the support of friends we
managed to achieve a lot. This
milestone report highlights some
of Providence Orphan and
Caregivers Project’s major
activities for the year 2004.
During the year, the project
worked with 1026 children in
Bulawayo, Avoca, Lupane,
Mzinyathi and Matjinge.
PROVIDENCE ORPHAN AND CARE
GIVERS PROJECT
Providence,
though operating on a shoe
string budget managed to
organise and hold two Christian
Community Camps in Bulawayo.
One was held at MacDonald Hall
held during the Easter holidays
and the other at Paddonhurst
Methodist Church August 25 –27.
Activities
The camps,
which were meant to cater for 80
children, ended up with 120
children. Our problem was
screening of the children, as
all deserved that weekend. The
high attendance affected our
budget from our sponsors. We
had budgeted $ 4 million per
camp but each camp cost $5,6m
and $6,3m respectively. The
purpose of the camps is to give
children a chance to be loved
and also demonstrate love to
other children by doing things
together, sharing experiences
and educating each other to be
responsible. Our theme for the
camps was God’s answer to HIV
and AIDS and Zero Grazing”.
During the camp, children do
clean up activities at specific
areas identified by community
leaders. This was done in
Mzilikazi at three shopping
centers namely Madhamara,
Mzilikazi and Hlalo. Some
children also take the time to
raise awareness by talking to
others and sharing
responsibilities as God’s
children. In these camps, the
children are well fed and have a
volunteer doctor and nurse on
24-hour call though the Almighty
has protected us all the time as
none of the children have fallen
ill during the camps.
Children
also have a chance to expose
their talents in music, poetry
and in role plays at the Hope Of
a Child In Christ relaunch which
was held at the Bulawayo Rainbow
Hotel. It is always a blessing
to listen to them sing messages
of love for everyone even if
they are infected.
The Kids
Club leaders visited Mpopoma
High School Interact Club to
learn how they do charity work
through fundraising. The
children watched as Interact
members planned their
fundraising activities. They
appreciate the debate whose
topic was “Abortion must be
legalised.” A trip to Chipangali
Wildlife Oprhanage was organised
as a Christmas treat for the
children. The day was memorable
for the children some of whom
had not seen a live animal since
they were born. This trip was
also meant to educate them that
the animals at Chipangali are
orphans and some people had
picked them up and looked after
them as they value love and
life. They were reminded that
there is need for people to
donate in cash or kind to help
in the running of the orphanage
otherwise, it would close down.
The trip to
Avoca scheduled for the August
holidays failed. Children had
volunteered to lend a hand
toward the completion of the
Methodist Church. Efforts to
get sponsor were fruitless
despite approaching individuals
and the church. We are still
trying to go ahead as we will be
working in that area.
Debate and
Christian Modelling contest was
held at MacDonald Hall in
Mzilikazi on November 27 2004.
Some invited schools did not
turn up as the town had a lot of
activities that weekend.
PrinceTop College went home with
a lot of prizes for the school
and individual students. For
modelling a nine year girl,
Jacquline Mzombi was crowned
Miss Providence. At her tender
age she was able to answer
questions on scriptures,
prevention of spread of AIDS and
responsibility as a child of
God.
On December
17, the children also took part
in the Zimbabwe Council of
Churches march in Mzilikazi.
They entertained the crowd by
singing messages on prevention
of the disease and the breakdown
of families, which result in
children fending for themselves.
Providence members were
colorfully dressed in T-shirts
with the project’s logo that
were sponsored by Bulawayo
Rotary Club.
The Kids
Club leaders have been visiting
bereaved families and peer
counseling though they do not do
it professionally as some of
them have not received any
training.
The project
also fundraised 52 pairs of
women, men and children’s shoes,
50 machine-knitted jerseys, 36
Bibles, exercise books and pens
after consultation with the
Khami Prison superintendent. The
idea came from children who felt
that this past June it was too
cold and they remembered those
in prison and living on the
streets.
THE
HOME BASED CARE GROUP
Strive and
the Methodist Church trained the
group. Members are due for a
refresher course, funds
permitting. The caregivers,
visit the sick and offer relief
to those caring for the sick.
They network with other
organisations when there are
issues or patients to be
attended to. They have
allocated each other areas to do
their fieldwork that is caring
for the sick. The major problem
now is we do not have adequate
kits to protect them when they
do their work. They also visit
homes where there are orphans
especially those in our Kids
Clubs since some of the orphans
come to us with horrifying
stories. The regular visits
have reduced child abuse in the
area because the community now
knows that there are people
monitoring the welfare of the
children and cases are reported
to the police.
Among the
ten volunteers for the children
care group we lost two women and
one man. Two of the late
members had completed and
received certificates on Early
Childhood training Course. They
were active in running the Day
Care Centre. There are plans to
recruit and train other members
should funds be available.
TOUCH
THE SEAM SUPPORT GROUP
The support
group was an initiative that
came from working with children
who spoke constantly of the pain
of watching helplessly as their
parent fell ill and wasted
away. The group has proved to
be a strong support system as
members are accepting their
status and spiritual growth each
day. Our motto is “Cleanliness
if next to Godliness.” The
members have really taken the
motto seriously and are now very
responsible for their bodies and
families.
Activities
The project
has assisted members to develop
hope for themselves and their
families by understanding that
they can live longer if they are
responsible.
Touch The
Seam has its own leadership to
make things happen. They plan
their activities and share with
the project. The group had
three big events during the
year:
-
They
hosted a luncheon where
nutritious dishes were
served. This was done to
encourage those infected to
eat nutritious foods, which
are readily available and
affordable. This also gave
a lesson to other people
that behaviour change should
be all round.
-
The
modeling competition was
held to revive the spirit of
those who doubted that they
are still beautiful. The
judges were from the
Methodist Church, Zimbabwe
AIDS Network and a Pastor
from South Africa.
-
The third luncheon was for
family members. Each support
group member brought his or
her children or spouses.
The purpose was to encourage
the family to support
preparation and consumption
of traditional dishes.
The
fellowships have proved very
successful. A well wisher Mrs
Myandu who was touched by some
of these events has so far
donated four million to assist
the members. The support group
members are the direct
beneficiaries of the fund. When
received, the money is
distributed as per members’
requests for rent, medication,
food and help with children’s
education.
Several
ladies that are gifted in
producing handicrafts are
contracted to do wares for
Providence Orphan and Caregivers
Project and are paid for labour.
The money helps the women with
their daily needs. Several of
the members have accepted Christ
and worship in their respective
churches.
NETWORKING
Providence
is benefiting from interacting
with a number of organisations
by attending workshops. The
organisations are Zimbabwe AIDS
Network, SAfAIDS, WASN,
Vulindlela Orphan Care,
Childline, Girl Child Network,
HOCIC, Masiye Camp, PSI,
Lighthouse Foundation, DP
Foundation and Rotary Club of
Bulawayo.
SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS/INDIVIDUALS
Below is
the list of donations that the
project received:
|
NAME OF DONOR |
AMOUNT RECEIVED |
|
Rev. Martine |
$5
990 000,00 |
|
Rosemary Carol |
4
200 000,00 |
|
Mrs
Blythe |
185 000,00 |
|
Chichi Nyashanu |
200 000,00 |
|
Suseela |
600 000,00 |
|
M.
Maburutse |
111 400,00 |
|
Patience Phiri |
1
000 000,00 |
|
Miriam Madziwa |
50 000,00 |
|
Main Street Choir |
195 000,00 |
|
Main Street Woman’s
Association |
30 000,00 |
|
Wendy Deuring |
500 000,00 |
|
Dr
Musiya |
200 000,00 |
|
Basic Trust |
8
500 000,00 |
|
Mr
Zwelani G. (for Avoca
seed) |
2
040 000,00 |
|
Carol Gibson/Lolly and
Friends |
3
000 000,00 |
|
Alan Wilkinson |
2
000 000,00 |
|
|
|
|
A.
Myandu (Touch the Seam) |
4
000 000,00 |
|
TOTAL |
$33 190 000,00 |
|
NAME OF DONOR |
GOODS RECEIVED |
|
Chichi Nyashanu |
Two
large suitcases of
clothes valued @ $800
000. |
|
Judy Dlodlo and the
girls |
One
large suitcase of
clothes valued @ $300
000. |
|
Femina Garments |
Prize vouchers for
debate and modeling
contest @ $300 000. |
|
Hayward Trust Hillside
Church |
-
400
X 5 kg mealie-meal
-
240
X10 kg mealie-meal
-
matemba
-
beans |
|
Mrs
von Riesen
Mrs
B. Lawrence (SA) |
40
teddy bears for children
and baby jerseys @ $400
000 |
|
Rotarian Maureen
|
Sample cut pieces of
material @ $250 000 |
|
Rotarian Julie
|
One
large box girls clothes
@ $500 000 |
|
Rotarian Club of
Bulawayo (9210) Disaster
Relief |
300
X20 kg mealie-meal @ $ 9
000 000 |
|
Leslie Parkins |
I
big box used clothes @
$600 000 |
|
Label Clothing |
I
box new boys clothes
@900 000 |
The
donations benefited the orphans
directly and indirectly in
education assistance, medication
for both the PLWAs and orphans’
food and clothing.
OUTLOOK FOR 2005
With
government agreeing to an
increase in school fees, the
planned budget towards education
assistance falls away as a new
budget will have to be drawn up
after the schools and getting
the new figures. For primary
schools, so far the minimum fees
is $60 000 per term and for
secondary schools the fees range
from $300 000 to one million
dollars per term. For those in
boarding, it is from $1,5
million to $2,5 million. The
figures given apply to schools
where Providence has
beneficiaries. The new schedule
for school fees should be ready
by January 3 2005 and will be
sent out for appeals on behalf
of the children.
During the
year there will be need to train
Kids Club leaders in counseling
skills so that they can
effectively help their peers.
There will also be a recruitment
drive for home based care group
and Kids Club patrons.
There are
also plans to intensify private
tuition for the orphans, as some
of them did not do well in their
lessons due mainly to their home
background.
“…For I
was hungry, you gave me
something to eat. I was thirsty
and you gave me something to
drink, I was a stranger and you
invited me in, I needed clothes
and you clothed me, I was sick
and you looked after me. I was
in prison and you visited me. I
tell you whatever you did for
one of the least of these who
are members of my family you did
it for me… Jesus” Matthew 25
Background Information on AIDS
Orphans in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has one of the worst
AIDS epidemics in the world and
it has so far left behind an
estimated 980,000 AIDS orphans.
It is believed that the worst
affected children are those in
rural areas, where there have
also been shortages of drugs,
food and other resources. The
orphan crisis first came to
national attention in July 1992,
when Zimbabwe's Department of
Social Welfare co-ordinated a
national conference on orphans.
It was recognised that compared
to institutionalisation,
community based care was
cost-effective and kept children
in a familiar social, cultural
and ethnic environment and
reduced their distress. In 1995,
the Government of Zimbabwe
developed a national Policy on
the Care and Protection of
Orphans, which was finally
approved by the cabinet in May
1999. The Policy reaffirmed the
position that orphans should be
placed in institutions only as a
last resort. As many journalists
from number countries are not
able to enter Zimbabwe, there is
a lack of up-to-date information
of many issues. The following
examples of orphan care in
Zimbabwe are some initiatives
that have taken place.
In
1986, the Farm Orphan Support
Trust (FOST) of Zimbabwe was set
up as a community response to
the situation of orphans in
commercial farming areas. FOST
aims above all to keep sibling
orphans together, within a
family of the same culture, and
in a familiar environment. It
operates foster schemes on
farms, using farm committees to
train caregivers, establish
monitoring procedures, and raise
community awareness. All the
farms register orphans
individually and send
information to a centralised
computer bank. This procedure
helps with the tracing of
relatives.
FOST promotes
five levels of orphan care. It's
preferred care is within the
extended family. If that is not
possible, orphans are placed
within substitute families. The
third choice is for small groups
of orphans to live together on a
farm, looked after by a
caregiver employed by the farm
for this purpose. The next most
preferred type of care is an
adolescent child-headed
household with siblings
remaining together, preferably
in the family home. Here they
are cared for by the eldest
child with regular supervision
and support provided by the
farm's Child Care Committee, the
community and the local field
officer. Finally, if nothing
else is available, FOST will
arrange for temporary care in an
orphanage, until a better
solution can be found.24
The Zimbabwe Red Cross has
launched a project called
'memory box' to help mothers to
preserve their families cultural
heritage and communicate with
their children long after their
death. Women who take part in
the project make a memory box
with their children. It serves
as a 'keepsake' of family
photographs, letters, stories
and history. The Red Cross
believes that the program helps
to diminish the trauma of a
parent's death and keeps the
memory of the mother alive. The
project also helps women empower
themselves. A single mother of
three believes her memory box
will help her children fulfil
her wishes.
"I want them to
go to university so that they
can teach other children that if
you don't have a father at
present only your mother, you
can be someone."
25
Many children in Zimbabwe as in
many other countries find
themselves being cared for by
their grandparents. Providing
care and support for the orphans
is hard for the elderly carers
who are often in poverty and
sometimes also in poor health
themselves.
"Looking after
orphans is like starting life
all over again, because I have
to work on the farm, clean the
house, feed the children, buy
school uniforms...I thought I
would no longer do these things
again. I am not sure if I have
the energy to cope"
65-years old man who is
a caregiver for three
school-aged children
26
Many elderly carers rely and
survive with the help of food
distribution programmes due to
the ongoing food crisis in
Zimbabwe.
"It is hard to
provide food for the children as
I am unemployed. As a mother, I
cannot let them go hungry, so I
always try my best to provide
for them"
Agnes, grandmother aged
68 years
27
In a study that
was carried out in Zimbabwe, it
was found out that many older
people who care for their
HIV-infected adult children or
orphaned grandchildren also face
the harsh realities of stigma
attached to the disease. The
study recommends that the older
people should be recognised as
carers and should be offered
adequate support.28
A new initiative
has been planned by local
orphanages in Zimbabwe. Every
orphanage in Zimbabwe is to set
up a clinic to look after the
orphans in the home as well as
those in their outreach
programmes in the community. The
clinics will provide medical
care for the orphans who would
otherwise have to suffer
opportunistic infections without
medical care. The orphanages
find it difficult to rely on the
state assistance to care for the
HIV/AIDS orphans. So the
orphanages have decided to
search for funds to build the
clinics. The representatives of
the children's homes said they
had a five-year plan that should
lead to most of the clinics
operating by 2007. But the
project is likely to face
problems initially with the cost
of building materials and land
and later on with the very high
prices of drugs and medical
equipment.29 |
