Esteemed Children’s Trust Report July 2025

ECT is a non-profit organisation registered in Zimbabwe under the Companies &

Association Trustee Act (Chapter 24:04). Its main area of operation is child protection,

focusing on orphan and vulnerable children (OVC). Major organisational activities for the last quarter include engagements and strategy review meetings.

Best practices or highlights of achievement

Stakeholder Engagement

ECT continues to interact with likeminded organizations that focus on children related programs. These include members of CAL, the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ), Childline, and other organizations.

Poverty and hunger alleviation

This area has been severely affected particularly after the withdrawal of ROPKA, one of ECT’s partners who was actively providing food hampers for children in both communities (Epworth and Caledonia). The organization has also witnessed a decline in the number of well-wishers who used to support children with food.

Children’s Enrolment

There has also been a gap in the area of education due to lack of funding. The organization continues to engage organizations and well wishers to support this initiative. As at this reporting period, no funding has been secured yet and there is a huge gaps in the educational sector than any other time in the history of ECT.

Projects run

ECT conducted an assessment in the area of Epworth in the hope that it would run a tuck-shop business. Unfortunately, due to the stiff competition in the area and the capital injection required to effectively implement this project, ECT was not yet ready to execute this project.

Support received in this quarter

The organization received clothing from ladies from Oasis Christian Assembly. They spent time with children, encouraging them, sharing the Word of God with them, and appreciating the work that ECT is doing. They were touched by the plight of children and they promised to go back and mobilize more ladies from their church to come on board to support children in Epworth.`

Challenges

Funding and the shrinking space remains a major challenge. Children’s back needs remain unmet. Staff are demotivated due to lack of resources to adequately meet their salaries.

Conclusions

ECT continues to play a vital role in child protection and support for orphaned and

vulnerable children in Zimbabwe. The organization has demonstrated strong

stakeholder engagement and community involvement, exemplified by partnerships with organizations like CAL, WCoZ, and Childline, as well as support from local groups such as Oasis Christian Assembly. Despite significant challenges, including funding shortages, food insecurity following the withdrawal of key partners, and gaps in educational support, ECT remains committed to its mission. The organization’s efforts to assess new projects, such as the proposed tuck-shop initiative, show a proactive approach to sustainable development. However, persistent issues such as limited resources, staff demotivation, and unmet basic needs highlight the urgent need for increased funding and support. Moving forward, strengthening partnerships and mobilizing additional resources will be essential for ECT to continue making a meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable children in Zimbabwe