Tanyaradzwa Children's Home Report April 2026

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Tanyaradzwa Children’s Home, Reg No SW 10/152, is a registered community-based childcare institution located in Kadenge Village, Ward 25 of Murewa District, Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe. The institution is owned by a Private Voluntary Organization, Tanyaradzwa Child Care Centre, Reg No PVO 30/12. Tanyaradzwa Children’s Home currently accommodates 46 orphaned and vulnerable children under its residential care facility and also supports 25 vulnerable children within the surrounding community through various welfare and developmental programs. Our vision is to provide a nurturing environment where children can grow safely while building practical skills for independent living. Horticulture is the core pillar of the institution’s program to ensure improved nutrition, income generation, and support therapy. This report shares key progress, constraints, and investment needed to reach full potential.

 Key activities conducted with direct impact on OVC’s

Thematic Area	Activities Done	Output/Results	Challenges
Care and Protection
	Daily routines, meals, hygiene and homework support Weekly house meeting with children and their house parent Conducted an Easter Holiday party with games and Christian teaching	All children received three meals and extra snacks everyday Two conflict resolutions sessions were held	High food cost due to skyrocketing economy
Education	At the end of the term all children collected their reports and reviews were conducted Grade sevens conducted holiday lessons Library time three times per week	100% report collection rate Three grade seven children conducted holiday lessons One child was awarded class prize	Shortage of school wear for second term Financial challenges to cover holiday lessons fees for grade seven’s
Agriculture and Nutrition	Land preparation for winter crops Five teens registered for garden work 4000 broilers and16 goats. 5000 tomato plants grown. 6 tons maize produced	Garden supplied 90% of April vegetable needs Chickens helped to supplement children’s diet	Water system capacity is inadequate to mitigate during dry spells. Grinding mill helped in preparing feeds for  the broilers
Health and Psychological wellbeing	Monthly weight and height checks Life skills training Play therapy	No major illnesses were recorded
Administration	Staff meetings and case reviews Donor visits	All staff and children are trained on fire drill

AGRICULTURE 

The children’s home is committed to ensuring that all children receive adequate nutrition, educational support, and holistic development opportunities. Agriculture has been identified as one of the key sustainability initiatives for the institution, as it is located in a rural area where agriculture is the pillar of the economy. Through crop production and small-scale farming, the home seeks to improve food security, provide nutritious meals for the children, and generate income to support operational costs. The institution has noted significant success stories in crop production and poultry production. In 2025, the institution managed to cultivate 12 plots of maize, two plots of sugar beans, and one plot of groundnuts. In terms of poultry production, the home managed to produce 4,000 broilers in 2025, with a target to reach 8,000 chicks throughout the year 2026, the institution hopes to build enough foul runs to reach this objective. The home managed to do tomatoes income generating projects with a total of 5000 plants planted in 2025. Water was the main challenge.

Despite the noted success, agricultural programs are facing a major challenge: water shortages caused by the lack of a viable solar-powered water pumping system. Although the home has access to water sources, it does not have sufficient infrastructure to pump and distribute water for irrigation.

As a result, agricultural production is limited and unreliable, especially during dry seasons. This affects the home’s ability to produce food, generate income, and maintain sustainable operations. To address this challenge, Tanyaradzwa Children’s Home proposes the installation of a solar-powered water pumping system to support irrigation and enhance agricultural productivity.

PROPOSED BUDGET

ITEM	DESCRIPTION	ESTIMATED COST
Solar panels	Solar panels for pumping system	$1 052
Sola water pump	Submersible pump 3 hp	$ 350
Controller and inverter	System control equipment	$ 480
6 x 5000ltr water storage tanks & tank stands	Water storage and distribution	$4 200
Irrigation equipment	Pipes, fitting, drip system	$1 200
Installation	Technical installation cost	$   800
TOTAL	PROJECT COST	$8 082

The proposed solar-powered irrigation project will play a crucial role in strengthening the sustainability of Tanyaradzwa Children’s Home. By ensuring a reliable water supply for agriculture, the project will improve nutrition, food security, income generation, good morals, and skills development for orphaned and vulnerable children under our care. Investment in this project is an investment in the well-being and future of vulnerable children in Murewa District.

CONCLUSION

Tanyaradzwa Children’s Home provided stable, holistic care despite resource constrains. Water remains our challenge for our horticulture and nutritional goals.