Category: Friends’ Newsletters/Reports

As always the newsletter is full of information from the Home. This particular quote really struck me this time…

“You will be amazed how costs are rising. Yesterday morning I boarded a bus for town for $1.50, but after my exams-around 5pm-the bus fare was $5.00”.

On a more positive note the MRCH Big Sunday fundraiser raised £4,195 for the Home as well as receiving lots of goods in kind – though this is down on previous years.

Finally, a book by Graham Jones describing the life and work of Astonishment Mapurisa – a former Director of the Home is coming out in September. It will be available on Amazon ‘Astonishment:Laying Ghosts in Mugabe’s Zimbabwe’.

The June Newsletter is here and a huge thank you to all of you supporting the Home. News this quarter reveals that the National Pharmacy of Zimbabwe-who send some medicine supplies to the Home-have not done so for months. Your funds have helped the Home buy essential medicine for the children to cover this shortfall in addition to our usual support.

There is also a very informative Q&A with Norlin Chisoro-Transitions officer about how the Home manages the transition to life outside the Home once children reach 18years.

Please consider joining us for our AGM on June 22nd at Droitwich Methodist Church.

Our March newsletter reveals that the Friends contribute 33% of the Home’s regular income. Your support is vital, thank you so much for continuing to contribute in any way  you can.

A detailed report from the National Director – Rev Mutendzwa reveals disturbing news about the struggles the Home faces.

And we say good bye and our sincere thanks to Mercy-the longest serving House Mother. We wish her well with her next steps.

Welcome to the last newsletter of the year.

There are two interesting reports from visitors to the Home: Mark Edmonds and Michael Mapako. Thank you for your updates.

We can also confirm that despite challenging times for Zimbabwe our support continues to be channelled through to the Home as US dollars and remains therefore of significant value to the Home.

This 2018 Sept newsletter reports on a number of fundraising events that have taken place including: the Matthew Rusike Big Sunday fundraiser at the Home in June raising £3,748, the Mongol Car and a triathlon. Congratulations and a huge thank you to all those working so hard to fundraise for the Home.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to Paddy Coles who is stepping down as Treasurer after a whopping 15 years in the post. He was instrumental in managing our journey in becoming a registered charity back in 2007. he is greatly missed and we wish him well.

And reassuring news that the Home was unaffected by the troubles during the elections.

The newsletter for June 2018 has now arrived with news of how recent funds for the clinic are being spent.

There is also exciting news of a new fundraising adventure to be undertaken by David Graaff and Wayne Cooper. With your help they raised a staggering £4,000 with their Mauritania drive previously. This year they are driving a Nissan Micra a quarter of the way around the world to take part in the Mongol Rally and are hoping to raise at least £3,000. Please consider helping them reach this target by visiting Virgin Money Giving.

We can confirm that we have almost completed the required GDPR audit and following this June newsletter we will no longer be posting newsletters to anyone we have not heard back from. We are relieved to be able to say the majority of our members renewed their commitment to the Friends and some made additional donations at this time. Thank you to everyone for spotting our request through the mountain of GDPR enquiries you have probably been receiving over the last few months. Onward.

The newsletter for 2018 March is here and we welcome the new National Director – Reverend Linrielink Mutendzwa.

There is good news for schooling results and a short report from Mark Edmunds a visitor to the Home. He reports a lack of rain has been bad news for the crops, but despite this there has been a harvest of 40,000 onions which will not only be used for meals in the Home but also sold to raise funds for the school.

We are still looking for a new secretary to attend the 3 annual meetings for minute taking. Please contact our current secretary if you are interested in taking over.

The last newsletter of the year has arrived and with it news of the training workshops – their role and effectiveness. Please note these workshops are not funded by the Friends, but they are in need of more financial support. Please consider helping out and contact our treasurer with any donations.

Also, Rev Margaret Mawire, National Director and Superintendent of MRCH, moves on to a new post after Christmas. We wish to thank her sincerely for all her hard work on behalf of MRCH.

Finally our Secretary is stepping down. If you want to take a more active role with the Friends with a role on the committee please contact her directly.

This newsletter is jam packed with updates with a very evocative report from Rev. Mawire and Zvirinane Matore. To highlight just a few things:

• The success of MRCH Big Sunday where they raised a whopping $5,833.30 for the Home
• The amazing impact your donations made to two children when they were unwell earlier in the year
• And a gorgeous photograph of a group of children in their new winter school uniform

There is also a report from the Saltash Wesley Methodist church following their visit in July.

Please also note that Christmas cards are now on sale. Please place your order early to avoid disappointment, there are only 3 designs of the cards left – £2.99 for 10. Cards will not be sent out automatically this year.

The June newsletter is now available.

Interesting insights this month into the running of the home, in terms of holiday cover, new arrivals the all important MRCH fundraising event – the MRCH Big Sunday. Please take a look.