Churches partnering together to meet the desperate needs of orphans in Zimbabwe
Churches partnering together to meet the desperate needs of orphans in Zimbabwe |
| Who We Are The Zimbabwe Mission Partnership (ZMP) is a group of Presbyterian churches in the Rocky Mountain region that have banded together to meet the desperate needs of orphans in the Murewa District of Zimbabwe, some 150 miles northwest of the capital city of Harare. The AIDS pandemic in Zimbabwe has left thousands of children with no parents, no means of feeding or clothing themselves or providing for their medical needs. With one of the highest HIV rates and one of the worst economies in the world, the children are left to fend for themselves, often with twelve-year-old children trying to care for their younger brothers and sisters. The churches of the ZMP pool their financial resources to operate the Heather Chimhoga Orphan Care Center and two satellite centers now providing daily meals for about 1,000 orphans. The ZMP buys and ships large quantities of rice and beans, with other foods purchased locally or grown in the on-site garden. ZMP funds are also used to pay the children’s school fees. In addition, the churches collect, store and ship clothing, blankets, hygiene kits, first aid supplies, school supplies and many other needed items. The ZMP has also completed several building projects, including the orphan feeding center, teacher houses, major repairs on school buildings, several wells, and a bridge that allows children to attend school without having to wade through infested waters. The ZMP is governed by a board of directors made up of volunteer representatives from each of the member churches. Each partnering church has an equal vote in all decisions of the board. On the ground in Zimbabwe we have a board of local volunteers managing the affairs of the ministry. A small staff of local workers, necessary for the day-to-day management and operation of the Orphan Care Center, is the only group of individuals being paid for their services. For information about the individual churches participating in the partnership, you are welcome to visit their websites or e-mail them by clicking on any of the links below. Bennett Presbyterian Church – bennettpresbyterian@juno.com |
 |
|
 |
