Category: Friends’ Newsletters/Reports

Our next newsletter is here.

This time we report on some specific financial difficulties facing the Home, difficulties which have meant some very hard choices have had to be made.

The Home also says goodbye to Zvirinane Matore. She has been a huge part of the Home for the last 16 years and was also instrumental in providing us with regular updates about daily life there. We wish you and your family well in your new life.

Please note our new committee members have now stepped into their role, all contact details have been changed accordingly.

This newsletter reports on a worsening situation for the Home. Donations in Kind are dropping as a result of the ongoing drought, rural areas having been particularly hard hit and this is reflected in the amount of support available. And the Big Sunday annual fundraiser while well attended, has not reached pre-pandemic number of attendees and the fundraising reflects this.

Any help you can give is always very much appreciated. A recent legacy from the estate of one of our supporters has arrived just at the right time and we are working with the Home to determine the best way to use this in service of the children. If it feels right for you, please do consider a legacy for the Home as part of your future planning.

Our latest newsletter is available.

This quarter reports from the Home struggle to be positive. Extreme weather has meant crops have failed and a drought is imminent with the second borehole is nearly dry. A new borehole is one of the options being considered.

On a more positive note, results are in for the two students studying A-levels, both passed with flying colours and are now applying for law degrees. And the Home’s sunday school choir has graduated to winning the Connexional trophy (a national competition). Huge congratulations to everyone for all their hard work.

We would like to say a big thank you to Norton Methodists who adopted the Home for their 2023 fundraising project and produced some excellent results.

Please note. Our Chariman is stepping down after 20 years in post. We urgently need someone to take up this role. We are also looking for someone to take on the production of the Newsletter. Please get in touch with our Chairman if you feel you can help with either position.

Our latest newsletter is now available.

In this newsletter, we bid farewell to one of the long serving house parents at the Home. Fungayi Mahlakapane popularly known as Mrs Tunha, retired after 27 years. We thank her for all the love and support she has shown the children in her care.

At the same time, we welcome Audrey Standhaft who has joined the Friends as Secretary, we look forward to working with you. And extend a huge thank you of course to Michael for all the work he has done with us over the years – he will continue to work as a committee member.

The financial situation at the Home continues to be difficult, with staff salaries in arrears, the poultry project having been hit with a virus causing the loss of 200 birds, and buildings in need of essential repair. Projects are in the planning phase for the building work and any financial help you can offer with this will be very much appreciated.

Please note we are looking for a new Chariman as Carol Banham will be stepping down in June 2024 after 20 years in post. If you are interested please contact her directly.

Our latest newsletter is now available.

There is sad news of one of the children who passed in August through diabetes complications. The funeral was shortly after and Esther was laid to rest near her mother.

The newsletter highlights concerns about the impact of hyperinflation in Zimbabwe. Staff salaries have not been paid for 5months and the Home attempt to aleviate some of the hardship with small food hampers, but things are tough for everyone. The poultry and piggery are going well and enable to Home to generate a little income to help in this.

This will be the final year our Chairman, Carol Banham, will be in post. After 20 years service she will be stepping back, though will remain as a Trustee. So we are looking for someone to take on her position. The newsletter describes the scope of the role, much of which is online these days. Please give this careful consideration.

Our latest newsletter is now available.

This month we are very pleased to report that the solar panels have been fitted at both the Home and the outreach centre at Donga “this brings huge relief for both centres as we have been experiencing excessive power cuts…the solar panels give us light and refridgeration”

The Home is begining to put plans together to open a Primary school on site and discussions with the Ministry of Education are underway. The idea would be fees charged to local children would mean the school can sustain itself.

Four UK donors funded the repair of the vehicle at Donga which means the key worker there is once again able to easily deliver supplies to the rural schools, for the last two years he has been making the 15km journey on foot.

Finally, it is with sadness that we announce the death of Malcolm Payne after a long illness. Malcolm was our first FoMRCH secretary back in 1997, and he remained a firm support for the rest of his life. Thank you Malcolm.

This quarter our Newsletter contains another detailed report from the Home, with good news about exam results, and the children’s Christmas party. Unfortunately, fewer children than expected were able to take a break at a foster home over Christmas, but activities were laid on at the Home to help compensate.

Donations have been gratefully received and this time put to good use in Donga, where solar power will be installed to support the non-residental centre there. Much more is needed at the Centre and any donation you can make could go towards repairing the roof, pigsty and vehicle – the latter has not been been working for over 18months and restricts the outreach work significantly.

This Newsletter reveals both the terrible struggles for education in Zimbabwe and the wonderful generosity of local people to help – an Education Expo launched by the Home encouraged 18 new volunteers to offer additional educational opportunities at the Home.

The newsletter also covers lots of other topics from the solar panel project, the health of the children, Christmas plans and the crop plans. Do take a look.

Thank you for all your support over this last year, your donations make a massive difference to the Home and the lives of the children the Home cares for. We look forward to keeping you updated in the New Year.

This newsletter tells of the fabulous fundraising events which have occurred over Matthew Rusikie week – which in the end stretched to the whole of June. There are also some lovely photos of the Home’s trip to Lake Kariba in August – a long awaited treat for some of the children.

Zimbabwee is still in the middle of hyper-inflation and this seriously impacting the Home. Things are very difficult indeed. The Newsletter includes details of just how much it costs to care for a child at the Home today.

The Outreach Project at Donga reports on progress and there is much support needed there. Anything you can do to help would be very much appreciated.

Please note the Home is eligible for Government support for children with a valid court order. Of the 94 children currently at the Home, this relates to only 9, so any help you can give will be made careful use of. Thank you.

Our remaining packets of Christmas cards are now available for purchase and our e-cards available via Don’t Send Me A Card are being update this week and will be available shortly.

This quarter and update from the Home, reports Zimbabwe may be facing a major food crisis this year, a combination of poor rainfall and shortages due to the war in Ukraine being particularly felt. Crops grown by the Home are affected. The cost of fuel is also affecting the Home, the generator can only be run for a few hours each day as a result. On the up side there is great news about some of the students sitting national exams and the annual event – Matthew Rusike Week – will be returning to fundraise for the first time since 2019.

There is a detailed breakdown of the costs involved in caring for children at the Home. It is amazing how quickly it adds up. Please take a look and see if you can help.

David and Wayne report back on the fundraising drive in a 91 year old Ford from London to John O’Graots, to Lands End and back to London. Quite an undertaking. There is still time to contribute to their final tally.