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Take a look at more photos of the current state of the crèche. 

The aim is to group the children according to their developmental stages. The extension includes four rooms. Three of these are for three developmental stages for children. The fourth one is planned as a computer room for the school age children. The crèche complex will have a kitchen, a dining area and toilets for both children and staff. 

Take a look at more photos of the housing refurbishments and life inside the family houses.

We have available on loan several videos/dvds about the Home and the work in the communities These are useful for giving talks or showing at fundraising events. Contact the Chairman or Secretary

These houses were sponsored by Action for Children, where small groups of 10-12 children live as a family with a house parent. The first house was furnished by the British High Commission in Zimbabwe. The rest are now completed and all are being lived in and enjoyed. Each family cares for it's own garden and the children learn to grow their food and cook it. The children plant flowers as well as essential vegetables and they fetch water for the gardens daily.

To quote a member of staff: 

"The Home is looking better, each day we wake with a new vision inside or outside the new houses. The landscaping programme is continuous. A lot of flowers are being planted and small stone walls being done to make the site good and attractive."

The boys and girls’ dormitory units have been made into smaller units accommodating new offices, store rooms and the new clinic. There are now rooms to house visitors and volunteers.

Relief staffing arrangements have now been arranged on a rota basis to allow  the house mothers time off to return to their own families after each 30 days on duty..

There is now a clinic at the Home. The Zimbabwe Methodist Church pays the salary of a qualified nurse who, as well as running the clinic for the Home and local community, also advises the projects in Bulawayo, Gweru and Mzinyathi on health matters. The clinic has now been painted and a little equipment has been purchased.

Other illnesses needing treatment must wait for money to be available. At this time, these have to be viewed as extra to the daily needs of the home.

'In September 2008 an 8 year old boy was diagnosed with cancer of the brain and urgently needed an operation. We were able to send US$2000 immediately to pay the surgeon and nurses. He later needed a second operation which we were also able to send money for and he started to make a recovery. Sadly though he died just before Christmas..

Take a look at more photos of the community work, in particular the new residential unit for AIDs orphans. 

MRCH, through the MCZ childcare department, is now influencing the communities in Gweru, Bulawayo and Mzinyathi.

In Zimbabwe, many children have lost parents as a result of AIDs and are being cared for by grandparents or older siblings. MRCH helps to support these families with food, school fees or uniforms and shoes. A Grandmother with 12 grandchildren and no other adults to help her is supported by MRCH. A disabled Grandfather caring for 5 of his orphaned grandchildren is also supported by MRCH.

MRCH is also supporting 50 children in this area by providing school fees and uniforms.

There are over 1000 AIDs orphans in the Mzinyathi area. The people of 6 local villages, with the help of MCZ, MRCH others have built and are running a small residential unit to provide support for these orphans. Pre- school children are cared for on a day to day basis to free grandparents and allow older sibling carers to attend school.

Work is continuing with similar projects in Gweru and Bulawayo. Action for Children is committed to paying the salaries of 3 development officers to develop services in all 3 areas until 2012.

The general plan developed by Mr Astonishment Mapurisa at the Home in Epworth has been adapted for their needs. These pictures show the ground being broken and bricks being handmade. 

The Home hosts a sewing school which members of the community pay a small fee to attend. The facilities are also used by children at the Home to develop their sewing skills. 

The Nurse has now got her own clinic room and storage.

The Home's annual report for 2008 includes the following information:

'The number of staff has now grown to 45 (now 50 in 2010). These include: 

3 Childcare Development Officers who are trained Social Workers and will be based in the Community Childcare Projects in Gweru, Bulawayo and Chinoyi districts. They are working under the support and guidance of the National Director, Mr Mapurisa.

A Transition Officer, whose main responsibility is to implement the re-unification and re-integration policy. She works alongside the Childcare Manager under the support and supervision of the Mr Kupeta.

Community Health Sister

Accounts Clerk

PA/Communications Officer

4  Caregivers, a new unit has been opened to cater for babies and the new staff will be able to relieve Caregivers to have days off and have vocational leave.

Staff Development 

As a way of developing, motivating and retaining staff, MRCH is assisting the staff in different areas whenever it can and if resources permit.

The Finance Officer and the Bookkeeper are being sponsored to study a degree in accountancy and CIS Accountancy, respectively.

The Childcare Development officers for Bulawayo and Chinoyi Districts are being funded for their driving lessons.

Other courses for staff which have been funded by MRCH are: formal pre-school training, Hotel Catering, Greenhouse Management.

In August this year, MRCH also sponsored a team building retreat for all staff members  at the Tree of Life Camping Site.  The main objective was to instil a unity of purpose amongst staff as well as capacity building. The workshop also served as a retreat for staff as it was conducted at a relaxing, out of work environment. Members are still very excited and seem to draw daily motivation from the retreat. As a result the Home has set aside every Wednesday afternoon for sports.

 To see the full report of progress from the Home during 2008, please refer to our Report