Due to economic isolation and internal political instability, 72% of people in Zimbabwe live below the poverty line. We are determined to help children in Zimbabwe.
Four year-old *David was found by police officers after being abandoned by his relatives in a busy part of the district. They have been unable to trace his family, and social welfare officers brought him to the Houtberg Childcare Centre when lines of enquiry dried up.
Our partners say: “Time and again these children are found here and there. It has proved hard to end child abuse and neglect. It shows that institutions caring for children in this situation should always be there.” Thanks to the support of our donors, Houtberg Childcare Centre offers the stability and love these children need.
Four year-old *David was found by police officers after being abandoned by his relatives in a busy part of the district. They have been unable to trace his family, and social welfare officers brought him to the Houtberg Childcare Centre when lines of enquiry dried up.What are the challenges ?
Political coercion has become a feature of life in Zimbabwe, leading to the confiscation of land and the threat of violence. It can be difficult to obtain food, fuel and other necessities and HIV/AIDS has had a significant impact.
How does Global Care help children in poverty in Zimbabwe?
The Houtberg Childcare Centre offers a place of safety to orphaned, abandoned and abused children. Referred to the centre in Chipinge by social workers or community leaders, children receive loving care, access to education and preparation for an independent future.
The centre provides shelter and schooling. School fees are a burden for many families – often children do not receive an adequate educationCitation. The children from the Houtberg Childcare Centre all attend school, with their equipment and uniform provided, in order to learn the skills they need to support themselves in later life.
Up to 20 children live at the centre as a family. Children stay at the centre as long as they need to. Some stay only months, because when social workers identify a family connection able to care for them, they move on. Some children stay for years. As well as education, they learn agricultural skills, essential if they are to survive in this rural economy.
Global Care has worked to improve living conditions. We secured funding to open a new borehole and reconnect the electricity supply. We also helped restock the vegetable gardens – which had shrivelled and died without water – and enabled the farming of the remaining land.
In 2015 we were able to enclose and irrigate the vegetable garden, improving productivity, and in 2016 we secured funding to enclose and irrigate a much larger plot of land. This is farmed on a commercial basis to provide further income for the home, increasing the sustainability of the project.
How can I help children in Zimbabwe?
You can sponsor at child at the Houtberg Centre, from £25 per month. Give a vulnerable child in Zimbabwe a chance at a better future.
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