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Visit on July
20, 2007
Location: near
Mutoko
History
The orphanage
began in 1994 in Matemwa as the area for the current site was being
prepared. In 1995, Mother of Peace was moved to its current site 5
km from Mutoko. This orphanage (and three other Mother of Peace
orphanages) came about at a time when AIDS was little understood.
It was a direct response to the HIV pandemic. All children
suspected to be HIV positive were sent there. At that time, there
was very little knowledge of the disease. They experienced many
deaths in those early years (100 graves from ’98-’01). Gradually,
the attitude towards and the knowledge of AIDS changed. Currently,
there are 19 children on treatment. Twenty-three children are HIV
positive.
The Children
All of the
children pass through the Social Welfare system. There is a
resident social worker. They currently serve 129 children.
Fifty-two are abandoned children. There are nine houses. Two homes
look after infants (0-4 years of age), where the ratio is one mother
to 3 children.. Seven homes are for children 5 years old and above,
where the ratio is one mother to 12 children of varying ages. The
children attend local schools (pre-school and crèche are on
property).
In order to
prepare the children to leave the orphanage at age 18, the
Department of Education and Social Education (?) requires that the
children be exposed to all of the skilled areas. These are
gardening, farming, workshop, carpentry, metalworking, for example.
This is a developing program.
Re-integration
Fifty-three
children have been sent back to relatives. Re-integration of the
children to family members is a goal. The United Nations, The
African Charter, and a similar Zimbabwean document all proclaim
re-integration as a key component to the successful upbringing of
these children and for their sense of belonging. The children who
have been placed back with their extended family are still supported
for education, shelter, and other needs. Families are visited for
assessments. Incentives are given to the families who take back
children. Goats, for example, are promised. A milk goat can give
up to 10 liters of milk a day, where the milk can be drunk directly,
for thinning is not necessary. The Heifer project also passes cows
on to other families. The idea is to elevate the level of poverty.
In addition,
during the holidays, as many children as possible are placed with
families to provide them with a sense of family and community.
Medical Needs
There is a clinic
on site. Malaria cases are high. Some medical staff were from
Austria. There is a larger hospital in Mutoko.
Administration
There are 6
departments. Administration and Finance (includes security)
oversees 1: Farming Operations, 2: Child Welfare (headed by Social
Worker), 3: Education Department (2 teachers for the crèche and
preschool), 4: Health Department (Clinic, 2 nurses, 1 aide,
overseeing physicals, diet and nutrition), and 5: Construction and
Maintenance.
Buildings on Site
Each building has
been donated by an organization, including embassies and single
donors. Donations have been mostly all inclusive: plans,
specifications, materials, and labor.
Site
In addition to the
nine homes, the preschool, and the Clinic, there are other
buildings: church, recreational building, bakery, staff housing,
playground, workshop, and chicken coops. The farm has chickens
(1000 eggs/day), broilers, cows, and goats. They have constructed a
dam for irrigation. Currently, they are growing wheat for baking
bread in their own bakery. The government provides seed,
fertilizer, and fuel for free. In return, the farm must provide 10
tons to the government. However, the government pays for these 10
tons (?). Maize and vegetables are the main crops. Unfortunately,
MOP cannot grow maize at the scale that is needed, because there is
not enough ground available. Mealie meal, wheat and peanuts are
ground here on site.
Self-sufficiency
Today, the aim of
MOP is to become self-sufficient. Surely, the farm is one hope
towards this goal. They are also looking to pasteurizing milk,
providing long-term milk, and producing yogurt cheese, and butter.
They noted that 200-300 liters of mild are needed to make these
types of products, and that the cows need proper feed. Eggs are
very much in demand in Zimbabwe, because of their nutritional value
at a low cost. 1600 chickens produce 1000 eggs. Other ideas are
fish farming, honey farming, and jackaranda (a syrup) production.
Other agencies which
help
*CARDS (Cluster
Agricultural Development Services) – NGO that takes care of little
framing projects to families, for example, drip irrigation, seed,
fertilizer, and training
*FAO – a UN
agency
Contacts
Stella and Jean
www.motherofpeace.net
Implications for HOH
With the hiring
of Mr. Emmanuel Chiimba as the administrator of the Home of Hope,
the United Methodist Conference is looking to expand the scope of
the current Home into a self-reliant operation. Nyadire has a lot
of resources at hand: a lot of land available for farming, a dammed
river for irrigation, skilled laborers for training of the young
people, educational opportunities in many areas, and an empty “tuck
shop” for selling of goods. |
