Who are we?
In late 2005 Charlene Stotter, now Director of Zimkids, felt God calling her back to her native Zimbabwe to do what she could to serve Him in a country rife with poverty and political instability. The journey began by Charlene supporting just one orphan with food provision, clothing and Christian education. Over the next three years Charlene realised her potential to reach out to more children with the help of a team. This team became ‘Zimkids’.
Zimkids has gone from strength to strength and on 5 December 2008, now supporting 125 children across Zimbabwe, we became a registered charity. As of March 2011 we provide regular support to over 110 vulnerable children and families and have over 200 people visiting our team every month in need of immediate help and support. We spend time with all those we meet, to build a relationship of trust, and to share some of the faith that motivates and equips us for this work.
The Team
Field director
I am Charlene Stotter, and I find myself to be the leader and director of Zimkids. I’m a Zimbabwean, but lived in England for 6 years, which is where I became a Christian and attended Morden Baptist Church. In late 2005 I felt God wanted me to return to Zimbabwe to take the love of God to people there. So I went there to explore, and as a result conceived Zimkids as “supporting orphans and vulnerable families in Zimbabwe as an expression of the love of Jesus Christ”. This became a reality in March 2007, sponsored through Morden Baptist Church.
Field team member - Johnson Mwachande
I am aged 24 and started working with Zimkids in May 2009. What I like most about Zimkids is that it changed my life completely, because I can now share the Bible with the poor. I have been learning to do this more, and in August 2009 really enjoyed teaching at a camp we held for teenagers outside Harare. I have been more involved since then and recently helped with and translated for a team from the UK who ran very creative family events.
Field team member - Blessing Rusike
I started volunteering for Zimkids in July 2010 and in September 2010 God confirmed that I should be part of Zimkids. I especially enjoy teaching the Word of God, imparting what God has given me to the young people, the mothers and the team as well when the opportunity arises. I love seeing lives changed and seeing God at work in us as a whole team and that expressing itself through the many lives that are touched and changed through this ministry.
Blessing is a trained counsellor and a natural evangelist with a real heart for children, especially teenagers. She is an elder in her local church with her husband, a natural bible teacher and runs our Ladies Empowerment Group.
