GlobalGivingUK: Introducing ZimKids

“What is the use of living, if it not be to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone?”

— Winston Churchill (speech in Dundee, 1908)

ZimKids Orphan Trust

Located in Pumula North, Bulawayo, Zimkids Orphan Trust is a neighbourhood-based safe haven for orphaned children in impossible circumstances.

“Built by Orphans, Run by Orphans, For Orphans”

Birthed from a toymaking competition in 2005, the story of how ZimKids came into being is not only inspirational but an example of how great ideas are conceived form unlikely circumstances and the impact our close and distant networks can have.  When a spark is kindled by one it’s not difficult to get others to join in and soon an entire fire ensues. Dennis Gaboury and Tinashe Basa, later joined by Adrian Suskin are the founding fathers.

Zimkids mission is a commitment to provide the children and their caregivers with access to food and medical care as well as creative, recreational, vocational and educational opportunities. The end goal; equipping these children with the tools essential for self-reliance so they can grow into productive, healthy adults who are literate, energized, assertive and ready to take initiatives for themselves, their families and their community.

Through a variety of programmes these goals are being achieved and currently ZimKids has 3 active projects on GlobalGivingUK. Some of their programmes include;

•  Educational Assistance: Children are tutored on all levels, ZimKids Orphan Trust also pays school fees for their neediest orphans and gives stipends for those with test scores high enough to qualify for Advanced Level courses.  
• Library and Tech Center: A growing collection of over 1 200 volumes including encyclopedias  textbooks and novels as well as 14 laptops are available to the children.
• Food production: Zimkids maintain their own field with a greenhouse watered through drip irrigation. The produce supplements their feeding programme and provides food for their families.
• Girl empowerment programme: With the specially targeted vocational and educational training programme for girls Zimkids is leading young girls to economic independence. Areas covered include welding, sewing construction skills and business management.
• Workshops on HIV prevention and issues related to treatment of their HIV+ kids.

In less than 10 years ZimKids has already made great strides in Pumula North. 

To read more on their work and how you can support some of their projects visit their page at http://www.globalgiving.co.uk/donate/1411/zimkids-orphan-trust/ 

XOXO

Chido Dziva Chikwari

P.S If you would like to contribute towards my trip and the GlobalGivingUK Impact Assessment programme please follow this link to my fundraiser http://www.globalgiving.co.uk/fundraisers/zimbabwe-impact-assesment/