Emmanuel Children's Home Report July 2025

INTRODUCTION

This report serves to inform the advisory board, key stakeholders and the community at large about the progress and overall operations and developments at Emmanuel Children’s Home. The report provides an overview of institution’s structure, welfare and education of the children and also the daily activities undertaken by the staff and the children. It also gives a glimpse on the projects implemented, meetings held and general institutional progress and development as it is in its initial stages of operation.

 ACTIVITIES PROMOTING CHILD WELLBEING

In the reporting period, at Emmanuel Children’s Home we implement a number of activities promoting children wellbeing. These activities promote children’s wellbeing in physical, emotional, and cognitive development. We have managed to carry out a Psychosocial Support camp for the children and training for the mothers and staff. They also help in building healthy habits, develop positive relationships, and enhance their self-esteem and resilience. Again, the home has partnered with Psychologists who are working with are children’s psychological well-being helping address the various traumas experienced along the journey of life. Some have been diagnosed of different levels of depression and clinical psychologists prescribed medication which has been of great help to the children. Also, they engage in play, physical exercise, creative arts, and social interactions supports which helps thrive in a balanced and nurturing environment. These activities also foster a sense of security and happiness which is essential for lifelong wellbeing. Below are key activities:

Psychological Support (PSS)

Besides the PSS camp held, the children's home provides counselling sessions, a safe space for children to express their emotions and work through challenges. Social worker, care givers offer one-on-one or group therapy, helping children develop coping strategies, build resilience, and process traumatic experiences. This support is crucial in promoting emotional wellbeing, self-awareness, and healthy relationships.

Education Sessions on Social Skills

Emmanuel children’s home conducts education sessions on social skills, equipping children with knowledge and skills to navigate complex issues. Topics may include abuse prevention, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS awareness, and life skills. These sessions empower children to make informed decisions, develop healthy relationships, and avoid risky behaviors. By educating children on social ills, the home promotes their safety, wellbeing, and future success.

Devotion Sessions

These have become a culture which has seen even our children taking turns to lead. Devotion sessions provide spiritual guidance and nourishment, fostering a sense of purpose and meaning in the children's lives. Through Bible studies, prayers, and worship sessions, children develop a deeper understanding of their faith and cultivate a personal relationship with God. These sessions offer emotional comfort, hope, and inspiration, helping children navigate life's challenges with faith and resilience.

Sporting Activities

Making use of the nearby Sikato primary school grounds, the home offers various sporting activities, promoting physical health, teamwork, and socialization. Team sports like soccer and volleyball encourage collaboration, communication, and healthy competition. Individual sports like athletics develop discipline, perseverance, and self-confidence. Sporting activities help children develop essential life skills, build friendships, and have fun while staying active.

Life Skills Training

The home provides life skills training, equipping children with practical skills for independent living. Activities like gardening teach children about nutrition, sustainability, and responsibility. Poultry projects develop skills in animal care, entrepreneurship, and food production. House chores foster independence, responsibility, and teamwork. These skills prepare children for adulthood, enabling them to thrive in their future endeavors.

Personal Hygiene

The home emphasizes personal hygiene, teaching children’s essential practices for physical health and wellbeing. Children learn about proper hygiene habits, sanitation, and health, developing good habits that promote self-esteem and social confidence. By prioritizing personal hygiene, the home helps children maintain their physical health, feel confident in their appearance, and develop healthy relationships with others.

CHILD WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT

At Emmanuel Children’s Home, we are deeply committed to fostering this environment, where children can thrive and reach their full potential. We sincerely thank all our donors and partners for their generous support, which plays a crucial role in sustaining our programs and services. Your contributions help us provide essential care, education, and opportunities for the children. However, we would like to be transparent about the ongoing challenges we face, particularly regarding food donations, which are not yet fully in place. We are actively working to address this issue to ensure that every child’s nutritional needs are met consistently. Together, we remain dedicated to creating and maintaining a safe, supportive space that reinforces the physical and emotional wellbeing of every child under our care. We are also in need of medical routine checks ups

PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES

The home has seen the introduction of broiler project in the reporting period. The institution holds various kinds of projects that are running concurrently and these include: piggery, goat and sheep project, chicken rearing projects and gardening. These projects are meant to provide financial support for the home and they increase self-reliance, self-accomplishment and improve creativity at the institution as well as provide improved nutrition as some are meant for consumption by the children. They also help children in life skills training.

Types of projects	Status	Comment
Piggery	Ongoing	The institution is running a piggery project but facing challenges of enough feed’s due financial strains. The renovation of the pigsty is underway. Three sows farrowed a total of 26 piglets
Goat and sheep project	Ongoing and thriving	The home has a number of these and are multiplying. Two She goats gave birth to 2 kids. One ewe gave birth to 1 lamb.
Poultry projects	Ongoing	Road runner project is running very well. There are plans to extend the fowl runs and ensure adequate space. A total of 82 chicks were hatched. Collectively the birds are 207 in total
Broilers	Ongoing and thriving	The project is going on well and there are plans to complete the fowl run extension to accommodate scaling up the project. We kept a total of 300 birds during the quarter.
Horticulture	Ongoing	A variety of vegetables namely, cabbages, spinach, lettuce, carrots and beetroot are now being harvested and on sale. The children are also benefiting from the produce

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIP

At Emmanuel Children Home, we recognize the vital role that community engagement and partnerships play in enriching the lives of the children we serve. We are actively working to build strong connections with nearby schools to educate the younger generation about social issues that can hinder their life journey. To formalize these efforts, we are preparing letters to initiate collaboration and dialogue with school authorities In addition, we warmly include community children in our sporting activities and church services, fostering a sense of unity, inclusion, and shared growth. This not only broadens the social experiences of the children but also strengthens community bonds. Furthermore, we value the insights and ideas from community members who have a deep understanding of local challenges and opportunities. Their input helps us improve our operations and tailor our programs to better meet the needs of all children involved. Through these partnerships and engagements, Emmanuel Children Home aims to create a supportive network that champions the wellbeing and development of every child.

 CHALLENGES FACED

In the reporting period, Emmanuel Children’s home has faced challenges related to psychosocial issues. The children expressed deep effects of the trauma they experienced during their journeys of life. This has seen the engagements of the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) psychologist coming through with clinical psychological counselling which has showed positive response.

One pump from the borehole that supplies the houses with water broke down and this was a heavy blow on the part of the children. However, the friends of ECH came through and a new pump was purchased but there is need to secure cables which were burnt. So repair is still work in progress.

We are still grappling with the completion of Administration block, fowl run and complete renovation of pigsty due to lack of resources.

Staff allowances are still a challenge too hence we owe workers 1.5 months allowances. We  however have lost an Agronomist because of this challenge.

Our water table has gone down hence there in inadequate water for horticulture project. We still need to secure more drip kits to cover the entire arable land since this type utilizes little water.

However, as the secretariate we shall intensify friend raising and fundraising activities to try have more resources for the development and other needs at the institution. At the same time, there is need to expand our income generation activities at the home.

ACHIEVEMENTS & SUCCESS STORIES

Emmanuel children’s home has recorded a success story of one child who was enrolled at the age of 13 but had no language, he couldn’t talk nor interact, never been in school and had been seriously epileptic. In a month the boy began to have language, communicate and interact well with others and his environment. Ever since admission he has not had an epilepsy attack and has since enrolled in school and is very hard working and bubbly. He has grown a very strong sense of belonging to the extent that knows all the livestock at the home and is quick to notice and communicate anything amiss

PLANS FOR NEXT QUARTER (October to December)

1. Expand on the broiler project

2. Completion of the fowl run and pigsty

3. Mobilize resources for administration block completion and office furniture

5. Mobilize more support by engaging generous individuals, reaching out to new donors and hosting events to showcase our impact and attract funding.

6. Achieve developmental milestones by upgrading infrastructure, supporting children`s education and well- being and tracking progress for accountability.

7. Christmas party for children and caregivers

8. Staff development initiatives.

9. Continued PSS for the children and caregivers.

Through these initiatives, we aim to improve sustainability, generate income and uplift the lives of the children in our care

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

As Emmanuel Children’s Home we would like to acknowledge all our dedicated board members and church for their support and direction. Also, the home has established and maintained strong partnerships with various partners, organizations and government entities who support our operations and this is cherished much. These collaborations have been instrumental in sustaining the Home and promoting the well- being of the children in our care. We would like to appreciate all our partners for unwavering support towards the well-being of all our children.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the reporting period has seen the development of ECH in a positive way as more children have been committed and are coping well. Children have managed to be enrolled in school, many of which have been out of school for a very long time. Players are also coming in to partner with the home to try and address the plight of the vulnerable children which is a positive gesture. Children have shown notable improvements in both their physical and emotional well-being, a reflection of the care, support and nurturing environment provided. This is so evident in children with complicated cases, who quickly adapted to their new life which could have taken a longer time if the environment was otherwise. While challenges inevitably arise, the Home remains proactive in identifying and implementing sustainable solutions.

All planned activities were successfully carried out, thanks to the dedication of our staff, interns, volunteers, the resilience of the children and the unwavering support from our partners and community. As we move forward, we remain committed to improving the quality of care and creating even greater opportunities for the children`s growth and developments.