Children’s Ministry Progress Report – Marcy 5 2019
ABOUT VOICE OF PEACE ORGANIZATION
It started operating in the year 2000 in Dawnview, Harare running a children’s home with 28 children. Most of these children have finished University some are now working for Voice of Peace whilst others are working in various institutions.
Moreover, some are working outside the country whilst others are still at University and in high school. During our hey days we expanded into Mt Darwin, Hurungwe, Buhera, Nyanga, Mutoko, Mwenezi, Victoria Falls Epworth and Great Harare.
By 2008 we had cared for 6 000 orphans and vulnerable children and the majority through our community based care program. We also had opened 4 orphanages and a shelter for girls rescued from human trafficking and also a clinic and two schools for orphans. We had a feeding program for 2000 children in Epworth.
Due to economic meltdown and the political instability mostly 2007 to 2009 our resources began to dwindle. Most of our donors where threatened by the political violence and they began to pull out.
First to be hit hard were our children’s homes and the shelter for girls. We did cut down on our numbers but eventually closed two of the homes and the shelter for girls. The community based care later got affected and we could not bring food containers into the country. Also, the political violence disbursed our orphans with their care givers.
Our numbers began to decrease at Dawnview Children's Home where we now have 14 children, at Mt Darwin Children's Home we have 28 and at our Daniel Academy school we have 250. We have 300 children on our community based care program within our centers we sending to school.
We also stopped our feeding program and our medical clinic. We also ran children's clubs through churches and communities, which at the moment focuses mainly on the spiritual aspect.
SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS
Farming growing our own food at Borrowdale
Goat project in Mt Darwin
Poultry project in Mt Darwin
Gardening in Mt Darwin and Borrowdale
Wedding decorations
FUTURE PLANS
Renovate Mt Darwin cottages
Build houses and toilets at Mt Darwin children's home
Renovate Grocery shop at Mt Darwin children's home and operate it
Open skills training center at Mt Darwin
Build a fish farming project in Mt Darwin, Buhera, Victoria Falls and Nyanga
Build children's houses at Nyanga, Victoria Falls Buhera
Renovate the clinic and operate
Renovate the shelter for girls rescued from human trafficking and operate
Put boreholes at all our centers.
SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS - UPDATES
Farming/ Growing Our Own Food
Different types of crops are grown for sustainability. Since maize is the staple food it provides the much needed basic balanced diet. It is through this project the welfare of kids is better supported when it comes to basic needs.
Children are encouraged to participate in cultivating so that they better understand how the world works. Equipping them with the right tools mentally and behavior wise gives them a strong personality. When they encounter negative variable elicited by the true world it will be easier for them to sustain the pressures amicably and with ease. Human empowerment is one of the essential tools we believe in.
Goat Project In Mt. Darwin
We also keep goats in Mt Darwin. Given the devouring economic instability inflicting the country some commodities are beyond reach. Goats provide the much needed meat to help sustain children. Price hikes and inflation leaves the rearing of goats as one of the options to sustain children.
Poultry Project In Mt. Darwin
Moreover, in Mt Darwin we keep chickens. Through these projects children are taught how to run projects. Those that are not mentally gifted benefit a lot.
OUR NEEDS
At Dawnview Children’s Home
Educational sponsorship
Beds, bedding,
Food
Kitchen utensils, dining table, stove, Fridge, Stove
Fence
Water storage tanks
Clothes and shoes
Mt Darwin children’s home
Renovating cottages
Building toilets
Fence
Beds, bedding, kitchen utensils, sofas and dining tables
Food
Education
Borehole
Daniel Academy needs
Educational
Uniforms
Borehole
Toilets
Feeding program
Buhera needs
Education
Food
Clothing
Victoria Falls needs
Education
Mwenezi needs
Education
Mutoko needs
Education
Nyanga needs
Education
Beds, bedding
Food
Kitchen utensils
Fence
Food
Other needs
More children to be sponsored
University sponsorship
Sanitary wear
OTHER PROJECTS WE ARE ENGAGED IN ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Children's Community Outreach
We offer Christian education, psycho-social support, educational, emotional and spiritual support.
We engage in different activities with children from different communities.
Christmas Party
We also celebrate Christmas with children. We host parties for them so that they can have joy, happiness and an opportunity to refresh themselves.
Presents For Children
We also give children gifts during Christmas festive season. They really enjoy receiving presents and their joy, laughter and happiness is a marvel to experience!
Daniel Academy School
Daniel Academy…educational support is provided to the underprivileged children in Epworth. Children also receive some groceries for sustenance. The community is hunger stricken and has some social illnesses that we are trying to address and alleviate. We do home visits to experience the environment they live in so that we can better help them academically, through life supporting skills, psycho-social support, Christian education, arts and recreation and sports among others.
CHILDREN’S HOMES
Mt Darwin Children's Home, 28 Children
Nyanga Children's Home ,6 children
CHILDREN'S CLUBS Epworth ,Buhera Mutoko, Mt Darwin Mwenezi,Victoria Falls, Kuwadzana Dzivarasekwa
CHALLENGES
Teen pregnancy
Early marriages
Teen prostitution
After school work
Traumatization for those who cared for dying parents and those who are child headed household
James 1:27, ESV: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
Compiled by Tapiwa B Kanengoni