The Zimonya Project

Giving HOPE to a village of orphans and destitute on the outskirts of Harare, Zimbabwe

Nat and the orphans

 

> Brief summary of the situation in this area in Zimbabwe and the basic needs of the people

Zimbabweis facing a huge humanitarian crisis – with a collapsed economy and politically volatile environment as well as failed harvests due to flooding, around 5 million people are not able to grow or purchase food and other essentials. Unemployment is 85% and rising with the vast majority of the population unable to eat more than 1 meal a day. Substantial deprivation of basic social services has resulted in the breakdown of city sanitation systems and poor maintenance of water supplies which have caused a cholera epidemic that has claimed thousands of lives. 1 in 4 Zimbabweans is HIV positive and life expectancy is one of the lowest in the world, currently 33.

 

> Background of the organisation and how it started

A local woman, Nat, started looking after 3 orphans 7 years ago. With a few donations from friends she was able to take on another 104 children. She covers all their expenses and finds them a loving home within the community to be brought up in. Maggie on the other hand has been going out into this village once a week to pray with the sick and deliver food and medical supplies to the destitute. The needs of the destitute and orphans in this area have grown exponentially over the last 5 years. Nat and Maggie would like to help more people, take on more children and supply medicine, food and shelter to the destitute.   The only obstacle they have faced in being able to do this is a lack of funding, and thus Zimonya has started so that we can provide the funds they need to take care of the poor.

Grateful to receive food supplies

> Current set up

There are 3 trustees based here in theUKwho run Zimonya. In Zimbabwe Nat and Maggie run and oversee a small team of 5. Alan andSheltonare 2 of the people who help them. They grew up in the village and are known as the “feelers on the ground”, guiding and directing Maggie and Nat to the most desperate situations in the village.  Nat focuses on the orphans in the area while Maggie focuses on the destitute.

> Vision going forward

Alleviating poverty and suffering in this area by caring and providing for the destitute and the sick
Caring for and developing orphaned, abused and homeless children
Providing financial, emotional and spiritual support to those looking after such children
Training and equipping unemployed members of the community with skills to begin income generating projects
Encouraging self sufficiency and not dependency through skills taught and income generating projects started

Building relationships in the community and expressing Christ’s love in a tangible way

Community Spirit

> An overview of the kids (the difficulties they face on a day to today basis)

1 in 5 children inZimbabwewill die before the age of 12. The country has the highest orphan rate per capita in the world. Many have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS and have been born with the disease themselves. HIV/AIDS brings with it a huge social stigma which often means extended family of the orphaned children are not willing to look after them. As well as this stigma some families simply cannot afford to feed another mouth.  Many of them are left abandoned and alone having to search for wild berries, birds and mice in a desperate attempt to survive. With no one to provide for them, they have no access to medical care and those who are HIV positive often die a painful death.

Around 75% of state schools are not functioning properly because the majority of state teachers are not working as they are not paid enough to survive and have to look for or work for food. For many of the children, their biggest dream is to get an education but with a lack of teachers and unaffordable school fees this is impossible.

> How you plan to spend donations (how this will help the kids)

Funds raised in theUKwill be used to:
Train the community with various life skills to become self sufficient and not aid dependent
Provide food and medical supplies for the poor and the destitute in the area
Support families looking after the orphans, ensuring they are well fed and healthy.
Pay school fees for children
Start income generating projects to develop sustainability
Provide the local clinic with basic medical supplies