February 2009
Zimkids supports individual children as well as their carers and others in their immediate community every month.
All food is scarce and very expensive, particularly the basic commodities such as salt, sugar, cooking oil, maize meal, and that’s when you can find it. Zimkids has contacts for salt, cooking oil, maize meal, rice and pork. Money is very difficult to get hold of, in any currency. The public healthcare system has collapsed and many come to us at the church. People with HIV, TB, diarrhoea, eye infections, chest infections, wounds etc.. We give them paracetamol and pray for them. Amazing how God provides what we need when we’ve been willing to just try and help everyone who comes to us. Cholera claimed our first child in December.
That’s devastating as cholera does not have to be fatal. A little boy 2yrs old. We are educating everyone we can on rehydration and symptoms of cholera. One boy contracted it but recovered due to following our instructions, so we have literally saved that life, and more besides. The education system has collapsed. For this reason Zimkids is currently investigating other ways and means of educating the children. These may include home-schooling, tutors, life-skills, camps etc.
Zimkids is committed to carrying on. The Zimkids teams in UK and Zimbabwe are dedicated and enthusiastic. We are continually looking for contacts for food, and networks to help us support more people. We’ve seen people who were homeless and hopeless begin to get back on their own feet. One widow has asked us to bring less food as she is succeeding as a trader! Children are growing in joy and confidence. Many sick people would have died without the food and medicines provided by Zimkids. The situation is bleak, no question, but we are still managing to feed hungry people, give hope and bring change.
“Light shines brighter the darker it gets.”
