Marondera, Zimbabwe

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The Struggle:
Zimbabwe was once known as the bread basket of Africa, but in the last twenty years, things have changed drastically. Lack of government stability, along with diseases like HIV/AIDS, has wreaked havoc on the social structure of Zimbabwe.

Therefore we have a generation of orphans and vulnerable children, and a country that is desperate for economic development.

• Population: 12,084,304 (July 2011 est.) (CIA)
• Number of orphans: 1.4 million (UNICEF)
• People living with HIV/AIDS: 1.2 million (UNICEF)
• Life Expectancy (years): 44 (World Bank)
• Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 14% (2006)(CIA)
• Unemployment rate: 95% (2009 est.) (CIA)
• Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 24.9%(CIA)
• GDP – per capita (PPP): $500 (2010 est.) (CIA)
• GDP growth-0% (2010) (CIA)

The Solution: Empowering Local Leaders

We met pastor John Chinyowa and his wife, Orpa, in 2007 when they were caring for 30 orphans at the Musha weVena Children’s home. John, pastor of the Family Praise Fellowship Church, and Orpa, a school teacher, were born and raised in Marondera. Together, they oversee the Musha weVena Children’s home, and since partnering with them in 2007, the number of orphans housed and cared for has grown from 30 to 110.

John and Orpa exhibit true servants’ hearts as they oversee the orphans’ spiritual formation and education. With three kids of their own having already graduated from the local university, their dedication is apparent in every way they serve.

Here is how you can H.E.L.P

Our main objective is to make sure the children have their daily needs met, a proper education, and spiritual oversight. When sponsoring a child, the aid is spread between schooling, supplies, and food.

Action Steps:

Help One Now: Sponsor a Child in Zimbabwe
When you sponsor a child in Zimbabwe you are helping break the cycle of extreme poverty. Each time a child is sponsored it provides food, education, and most importantly, hope.
We believe the most effective way to break the cycle of poverty is to bring education to each child so that they can one day provide for themselves, and their loved ones. Our hope is that a child that is sponsored today will not need to have their children sponsored down the road.

Garage Sale 4 Orphans
This is a simple way to get your family, friends, co-workers, and community involved in helping Marondera, Zimbabwe. You throw what we call a “Garage Sale 4 Orphans Party” where the proceeds go directly to helping community projects in Marondera. These projects include providing clean water, building and re-building schools, aiding farming and agriculture needs, and additional community support. Go to our Garage Sale 4 Orphans page to find out more.

Learn about trips to Zimbabwe
We take approximately two trips to Zimbabwe each year. On these trips you can meet the local leaders, the children, and experience fist hand the ways in which you can get involved.
Make A General Donation
You can also make a tax deductible cash donation by clicking the link above. This will go to helping H.E.L.P’s state side operations. For the donation to go directly to efforts in Zimbabwe, please specify in the comments section during the donation process.