ESTEEMED CHILDREN TRUST 2025

Introduction

Esteemed Children Trust (ECT) is a non-profit organization registered in Zimbabwe under the Companies & Association Trustee Act (Chapter 24:04). ECT’s core focus is on child protection, specifically supporting orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). During the third quarter of 2024, major organizational activities included advocacy engagements and food distribution efforts.

Best Practices and Highlights of Achievement

Stakeholder Engagement

ECT continues to engage with key stakeholders primarily through the Child Rights Coalition (CRC). The coalition provides various platforms, including those for national budget discussions. ECT has contributed significantly to these engagements, amplifying the voices of children and influencing policy-related conversations.

Poverty and Hunger Alleviation

Food DistributionIn December 2024, ECT received a combined donation of regular food aid and Christmas gifts. Major contributors included:

Apostle Florence Maja and the Macedonia Charity Department of IAM Fellowship, who donated groceries for children in both Epworth and Caledonia.
Melany Tinotenda Kupeta, a Rhodes University student, who donated stationery to support children returning to school in January 2025.
Pomona Farmers Market, which continued providing regular food donations.

These donations were distributed equally across ECT centers. The organization and children expressed deep gratitude, especially for the back-to-school stationery support.

Loss of DonorsA number of consistent donors ceased their support in 2024, including ROPKA. The primary reason cited was extensive budgetary cuts, which hindered their operations. This loss significantly impacted ECT’s activities, especially during the El Niño-induced drought of 2024.

Children’s Enrolment

Academic MilestonesECT proudly celebrated the success of two children from Caledonia who completed their Ordinary Level education under ECT’s sponsorship program. However, due to lack of additional support, they were unable to continue to Advanced Level studies.

Sponsorship EffortsWhile some sponsors continue to support primary education, securing funding for secondary and advanced education remains a challenge. ECT is actively seeking sponsors, although some available opportunities require conditions that are not currently attainable by the children. Engagement with potential sponsors remains ongoing.

Projects Run

Transition from Piggery to Tuck-ShopThe proposed piggery project could not proceed due to land issues. In response, ECT shifted focus to a tuck-shop initiative as an alternative sustainable project.

Proposal SubmissionA formal proposal for the tuck-shop project has been submitted to CAL, and the organization is currently awaiting feedback.

Challenges

Lack of Sustainable Projects: The absence of a functioning income-generating project has heightened sustainability concerns.
Loss of Key Donors: The departure of regular supporters has further strained the organization’s capacity, particularly amid the ongoing drought conditions from 2024, which are expected to persist into 2025.ESTEEMED CHILDREN TRUST