Category: Friends’ Newsletters/Reports

The last newsletter of the year has arrived and with it news of the training workshops – their role and effectiveness. Please note these workshops are not funded by the Friends, but they are in need of more financial support. Please consider helping out and contact our treasurer with any donations.

Also, Rev Margaret Mawire, National Director and Superintendent of MRCH, moves on to a new post after Christmas. We wish to thank her sincerely for all her hard work on behalf of MRCH.

Finally our Secretary is stepping down. If you want to take a more active role with the Friends with a role on the committee please contact her directly.

This newsletter is jam packed with updates with a very evocative report from Rev. Mawire and Zvirinane Matore. To highlight just a few things:

• The success of MRCH Big Sunday where they raised a whopping $5,833.30 for the Home
• The amazing impact your donations made to two children when they were unwell earlier in the year
• And a gorgeous photograph of a group of children in their new winter school uniform

There is also a report from the Saltash Wesley Methodist church following their visit in July.

Please also note that Christmas cards are now on sale. Please place your order early to avoid disappointment, there are only 3 designs of the cards left – £2.99 for 10. Cards will not be sent out automatically this year.

The June newsletter is now available.

Interesting insights this month into the running of the home, in terms of holiday cover, new arrivals the all important MRCH fundraising event – the MRCH Big Sunday. Please take a look.

The March newsletter is now available.

The figures are in for the 20th Anniversary fundraising project – co-ordinated by Shirley Richer. A grand total of £5,152.31 has been raised. A huge thank you to everyone who participated in any way.

The newsletter also reports on the renovation project of the family houses and three sponsored A-level students who have just received their exam results and done well. We are always looking for sponsors for more students and the newsletter contains details about the costs involved.

Finally we extend a warm welcome to Rev. Clive Chikomo, who has joined the MRCH team as Chaplain at the Home.

The December Newsletter is now available.

Please take a look at Zviriane Marore’s report for a little more detail about the vital contributions your funds make to the health of the children and their education. There are also a few amazing photographs of the progress the Home is making towards self sufficiency given the irrigation support they are receiving.

We are very pleased to welcome our new Treasurer this month-Immanuel Mudzinge. Immanuel is a member of the Methodist Church in Britain and in Zimbabwe.

And of course we also want to say a huge thank you to David Graaff for all the work he has done for our Charity over the years. He will be maintaining contact with the Friends as  Committee Member. Thank you David.

The September Newsletter is now available.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John Bromley. John was the inspiration behind the Friends of Matthew Rusike Children’s Home 20 years ago. He worked tirelessly as our Chairman for many years and the Home believe he was very influential in the development of modern childcare practised there. He will be greatly missed both here in the UK and in Zimbabwe.

It’s 20 years!

The Friends have been supporting the Home for a long time now and our efforts are very much appreciated and still very much needed. Thank you to everyone undertaking fundraising events in this our anniversary year. Please let us know more about what you are up to and send us photos we can post here to inspire others to yet more fundraising.

“We thank God for the journey you have travelled with MRCH over 20 years. Your intervention made a big change in the day to day running of the Home…We are delighted that all four young people mentioned in our last newsletter are now being sponsored for 2 year A level courses held at MRCH college. Thanks to generous people who came forward quickly, their studies could begin without delay.” Rev. Margaret Mawire

This charity is so important in the day to day running of the Home and everything you contribute makes a huge difference. We want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who help the Friends carry on this important work.

In this newsletter we also welcome Gail Richer our new Secretary and Leigh East our Database manager-who also looks after the website. We would also like to reiterate our need for a new Treasurer. Please take a look at the newsletter where you can find a breakdown of what is involved. David will be happy to talk you through it in more detail. Please contact David or the Chairman direct.

The March newsletter is now available, in it the Home gives an insight into the impact of the drought on the Home. There is also wonderful news from the MRCH college on O-level results and the progress of the school choir.

However this quarter the Friends of MRCH issue an URGENT REQUEST for those of you donating already to please Gift Aid your donations. The remitance to the Home has had to go down by US$1000. Gift Aid and Stading Order forms are available to make this easier, please contact our Treasurer for the forms.

If you feel you can go one step further and encourage a friend to begin supporting the Home all the better, or perhaps you want to organise a fund raiser – again there are sponsorship forms available to help you.

This quarter we also say goodbye to our long-standing Secretary John Richer. John has been with this charity from its inception and has been a valuable member. While he will be handing over the Secretarial role he will remain a member of the Committee.

The December newsletter is now available and shows photos of the facelift the Clinic has undergone this year. Also check out the progress of the Transitions Office and its recent success reuniting a Home child with his parents after 16 years.

We urgently need a Secretary for the Friends. Can you give your time to help the excellent work of the Friends in continuing to support MRCH?

The September Newsletter is now available. In this newsletter there are comprehensive details of how donations from the Friends are spent by the Home.

NEW PHOTOS – there are lots of new photos from in and around the Home. Take a look using the dropdown options from the Photos link in the main navigation bar.

In addition we will be saying goodbye to our Secretary at the end of the year. John Richer has been an active part of the committee since its inception and he will be greatly missed. This does of course mean the Friends will now be looking for a new secretary. If you are interested please contact the Chairman.

FYI – the role of secretary involves:
1 preparing and distributing agendas and minutes for 4 annual meetings.
2 Maintaining the contact list of members and suporters.
3 Supporting the chair and treasurer in all matters linked to MRCH.
4 Be one of the charity’s trustees.