Friends Of Matthew Rusike Children's Home
Registered charity 1120944
There has been a long standing relationship between the Home and Action for Children. Joe Withington an NCH representative in the 1980s has written a brief history of the relationship between the two.
There is another document also now available describing a little more about the history of the Friends relationship with the Home.
We provide a substantial part of the income for day to day living at the Home in Epworth, Hatfield, Harare. We also support orphaned, ill treated and abandoned children throughout Zimbabwe through outreach childcare projects in other communities, reaching over 7,000 children. In excess of 95% of our donations go for the benefit of the children.
Carol Banham, our Chairman, visited the Home in September 2011 and conducted detailed interviews with many of the staff members. She has produced an illustrated report of those conversations, which illustrate the many roles the staff undertake as well as highlighting issues concerning the staff and where they feel help is most needed.
Excerpt…
8 House Mothers
Mercy, Lillian, Faith, Fungai, Mildred, Alice, Nancy and Sylvia. These warm hearted ladies lovingly care for the children in the house units. Each of them has a family of their own, mostly grown up now, who they leave with other family members for 30 days at a time while they’re at MRCH then they have 10 days break to go home. All of them have very obvious pride in their homes at MRCH.
Mildred cares for 6 babies, all under three. Amelia is the youngest at 3 months old. I said it must be a lot of work looking after so many small children and she said “it’s not hard when you love little ones”
The other mothers each care for 11 –12 children ranging from 2 to 16. Once they reach 16 they move to live in the independence units where they look after themselves with help and support available from the house mothers when needed.
When we lose a loved one our world just falls apart. We think that we can’t carry on with this broken heart.
Everything is different now, you’re upset and you’re annoyed. Your world it seems is shattered there’s such an awful void.
There’s got to be a reason and we have to understand, that love is a very special treasure. One should understand when in love there might not be a warning. We won’t know where or when to break up, the only thing I’m certain of is that one day you’ll be together again.
OUR DEEPEST FEELINGS SHALL FOREVER STAY
Shelley has produced a detailed document to explain more about the Centre. She describes how the Centre fits within the education system and local community and shows a ‘typcial day’ including a couple of typical games you might like to try out yourselves.
Lorna Graaff, who has been a passionate supporter of MRCH since it’s earliest days, has died aged 89. Trained as a teacher she went to Zimbabwe in 1956 as a Missionary where she met Rev Matthew Rusike and later went to his wedding. She and her husband Brandon stayed in Zimbabwe for 15 years before returning to England. In 1990 they returned to Epworth for 2 years but Brandon died suddenly. Lorna gave many fundraising talks about the Home which embodied so many of her beliefs and values: the value of education, creating opportunities and aspiration and a loving home for children. Her son David went with her on her last visit in 2002 when she was delighted to meet Astonishment and the children and practice the Shona she had learned in 1956. She put together a fund raising slide show with the photographs she had taken for the talks she gave. This can now be seen on utube.
“I know it’s my life. It’s no one life. Can I die like a slave. My answer is No.
At first I was a brown, dry grass, but as times goes on, I will be green grass over a rain season in winter.
I will be a respected person I wish, but others say no. It’s hard, hard for an orphan to achieve that but I will.
I wish ‘I will’ God helps. ‘I will’ is my answer. Sure I will.”
(Drawing by Tafadzwa)
‘Christmas greetings’
by Tasangana 15yrs
‘A Christmas tree’
by Paidamoyo 10yrs
‘A Christmas tree’
by Tatenda 13yrs
“Women are being disadvantaged in society because they do not see men as their equals and they often put others needs before their own.
To overcome this disadvantage they should examine themselves. They should also be realistic about their limitations so that they strive to overcome weakness. It is very important for them to take action, they should not spend their time worrying about things, they need to recognise success as women they need also to be recognised. They have to find a way for people to identify that women have the ability to take the work conspicuously.
A woman must have the ability to notify others of her presence. Women who can communicate have made it.”
