Zimkids Orphan Foundation

ZIMKIDS ORPHAN FOUNDATION (ZOF) PROVIDED A $131,806.00 CAPACITY GRANT TO ZIMKIDS ORPHAN TRUST (ZOT) OF BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE, WHICH HAS SERVED THE ORPHANS OF THE COMMUNITY OF PUMULA NORTH FOR THE PAST 16 YEARS. THOUSANDS OF ORPHANS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE NUTRITIONAL (SERVING OVER 30,000 MEALS DURING 2022), MEDICAL, VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES THEY PROVIDE. STAFFED AND OPERATED BY ORPHANS WHO GAINED SKILLS AND EDUCATION THROUGH ZOT, THANKS TO FUNDING FROM ZOF, THE ORPHANS THEY SERVE HAVE BECOME TEACHERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, NURSES, NURSES' AIDES, MECHANICS, SOLAR INSTALLERS, ELECTRICIANS, PLUMBERS, COMPUTER TECHNICIANS, COOKS, CARPENTERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. DURING 2022 ZOF PROVIDED ZOT WITH EXTRA FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO FEED OVER 300 CHILDREN PER DAY DURING 2022 TO THEIR ORPHANED BENEFICIARIES. THE FOUNDATION GRANT TO ZOT ALSO PAYS FOR CLINIC VISITS, AMBULANCE SERVICES, MEDICATION AND, ON OCCASION, HOSPITAL COSTS. WHEN POSSIBLE, ZOT TRANSPORTS ORPHANS DIRECTLY TO HOSPITALS TO AVOID LOCAL CLINICS THAT OPERATE WITHOUT DOCTORS AND EXORBITANT AMBULANCE CHARGES. MANY OF THE ORPHANS SERVED ARE HIV POSITIVE AND REQUIRE REGULAR MONITORING. SINCE THE HOSPITAL THAT CONDUCTS SUCH MONITORING AND PROVIDES ANTI-RETROVIRAL DRUGS IS FAR AWAY, ZOT PAYS FOR THEIR TRANSPORT AND, WHEN THE HOSPITAL RUNS OUT OF THEIR MEDICATION, ZOT PROVIDES THE FUNDS TO KEEP THE CHILDREN ON THEIR REGIMENS. A VOLUNTEER LICENSED PHYSICIAN BOTH OVERSEES ZOT MEDICAL PROGRAM AND TREATS ORPHANS. IN ADDITION A WITH COUNTRYWIDE TOP STUDENT AWARD. A SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR THE ORPHANS SERVED BY ZOT OF $17,000 OVERSEEN AND APPROVED BY ZOF. BRENDON NGWENYA RECEIVED $6330 TO FINISH HIS DEGREE IN PHARMACY AT RHODES UNIVERSITY. HE IS NOW FULLY EMPLOYED. THABISO MOYO RECEIVED $1600 FOR LAPTOP AND SCHOOL FEES TO BEGIN HIS WORK AT TEACHERS COLLEGE. DARLINGTON MPALA RECEIVED $2346 IS IN HIS THIRD YEAR OF VETERINARY SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE. NGQABUTHO NGWENYA - $3750 FOR ATTENDING HIS THIRD YEAR AT POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING. NKOSIKHONA MOYO RECEIVED $914 TO FINISH HIS DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK. RODECK DINGANI RECEIVED $850 FOR NATIONAL CERTIFICATE AND CLASS 1 JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICAL, NRZ COLLEGE THE REMAINING $1330 COVERED NURSE AIDE TRAINING FOR 2, A LEVEL STUDIES FOR ONE, AND O LEVEL EXAM FEES FOR 1. ALL ARE FORMER BENEFICIARIES OF ZIMKIDS ORPHAN TRUST. ZOT ALSO PROVIDES SCHOOL FEES FOR ORPHANS FROM PRIMARY THROUGH TO A LEVELS (SECOND LEVEL OF HIGH SCHOOL). STAFFED AND OPERATED BY ORPHANS GAINED SKILLED AND EDUCATION THROUGH ZOT THANKS TO FUNDING FROM ZOF. THE ORPHANS THEY SERVE HAVE BECOME TEACHERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, NURSES, NURSE AIDES, MECHANICS, SOLAR INSTALLERS, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS, PLUMBERS, COOKS, CARPENTERS, TUTORS AND ADMINISTRATORS. THE GIRL'S PROGRAM IS RUN BY A FORMER BENEFICIARY SENT FOR A DIPLOMA IN COUNSELING. SHE MEETS WITH ALL OUR GIRLS TO ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBILITY, CONFIDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE INCLUDING PROBLEM SOLVING TO DECISION MAKING. THIS HAS HELPED A LOT OF THE GIRLS WE SERVE AS WE HAVE WITNESSED HOW THEY HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH PEER PRESSURE AT SCHOOL, BOYS AND ATTENTION TO THEIR STUDIES. TEEN PREGNANCY IS RAMPANT LOCALLY BUT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM OUR GIRLS CONSISTENTLY MEET IN GROUPS TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM, SUGGEST METHODS TO AVOID PREGNANCY AND GIVES PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT IN A TEAM CENTERED APPROACH. THE BOYS ALSO MEET CONSISTENTLY TO DISCUSS THEIR SITUATIONS, CONCERNS, HOW TO HANDLE PUBERTY AND RESPECT FOR THEMSELVES AND GIRLS. COUNSELLING AND GUIDANCE SESSIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING HOME AND SCHOOL VISITS ARE A PART OF THESE PROGRAMS. THERE IS A LOCAL SAYING 'NDLOVU IBUVWA KWATHAMBILI' MEANING "SEEK ADVICE FROM THOSE AHEAD OF YOU." ZOT COUNCIL OF ELDER PROGRAM FOLLOWS THAT TRADITION. EACH STAFF MEMBER MENTORS TWO ELDERS (15-18 YRS OLD) AND EACH ELDER MENTORS A MINI-ELDER (12-14 YRS OLD). A NEW COHORT OF MINI ELDERS WERE ADDED THIS YEAR. THEY LEARN TO LEAD PROGRAMS. THIS INITIATIVE WAS AIMED AT GIVING SKILLS AND AN IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING ON HOW TO BE GREAT LEADERS ESPECIALLY WORKING WITH OTHER ORPHANS. THE MINI ELDERS AND ELDERS PARTICIPATE IN ALL THE MAINTENANCE TASKS DONE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THEY ARE TAUGHT WELDING, PAINTING, BRICK LAYING, CARPENTRY AND PLASTERING. THEY PARTICIPATE IN OUT TUTORING PROGRAM. THE LEARN TO WORK IN GROUPS NAVIGATING AND DEALING POSITIVELY WITH CONFLICT AS IT ARISES. ZOT BEGAN A CHICKEN AND EGG RAISING PROJECT AND SOLD OVER 360 BROILER CHICKENS IN 2022. REINFORCING RESPONSIBILITY, ANTICIPATION AND DECISION MAKING THE ELDERS AND MINI ELDERS HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN FEEDING, WATERING, CHANGING THE BEDDING. OUR LAYERS PROJECT CONTINUES TO PROVIDE DAILY SOURCE OF EGGS. 25 MORE LAYERS WERE ADDED IN 2022 BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 50. SOME OF THE EGGS ARE SOLD TO PROVIDE FOR FEED AND PAY FOR SHAVINGS FOR BEDDING. THE TUTORING PROGRAM HAS BEEN RUNNING WELL OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. STAFF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN LEADING THE TUTORING PROGRAM. 60 % OF OUR GRADE 7S DID WELL IN THEIR 2022 END OF YEAR EXAMINATIONS. THE PASS RATE FOR GRADES 7'S ROSE 33% FROM 11%. ZIMKIDS ORPHAN FOUNDATION WAS UNABLE TO MAKE PRESENTATIONS ABOUT ITS WORK THROUGHOUT ITS AMERICAN SCHOOL PARTNERS ABOUT THE LIVES OF ORPHANS IN ZIMBABWE - WHICH WE'VE LONG DONE ANNUALLY TO WIDEN THE HORIZONS OF BOTH YOUNG AMERICANS AND YOUNG ZIMBABWEANS. THOSE VISITS INCLUDED PRESENTATIONS AND VIDEO CONFERENCES WITH CHILDREN IN ZIMBABWE, OFTEN LEADING TO CONTINUING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN U.S SCHOOL STUDENTS BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE TWO COUNTRIES. WE HOPE TO RESUME IN THE FALL OF 2023.