Category: General

Meet the MRCH staff

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.

‘Our deepest feelings’ by Onius

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

Obituary – Lorna Graaff

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.

‘From the past to the future’ by Tonny (16yrs)

“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)

‘Men and Women are equal’ by Theodorah (18yrs)

“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.”

Mandy reports back on her visit to the Home in September (2005)

I have recently spent a wonderful 3 weeks in Zimbabwe, staying at MRCH. Zimbabwe is such a beautiful country, but what at mess it’s in right now. On a more positive note, MRCH seems to be thriving, despite the hardships. The children and staff now occupy the 6 new houses, where they live in family units, as opposed to the old dormitory system, where boys and girls were separated. They are all so happy, staff and children alike. It is especially good for brothers and sisters who can now live under the same roof. There are a few pairs of boy/girl twins at the Home and they are particularly happy to be living alongside each other. Each house has it’s own little garden, where they grow flowers and vegetables. The children take great pride in these. The main gardens too, are doing well, and the new ‘polytunnels’ are producing delicious tomatoes and pumpkins’

The main problem in day to day living is the lack of water. It is switched off for a few hours (or longer!) most days and after the children come home from school they have to go back and forth to the bore hole filling containers and taking them back to their houses. Needless to say, they never complain, they just get on with it, smiling and laughing as they go. Also, the electricity is constantly being cut off, so candles are always at the ready.

Building work is going ahead on the old Boys Department, to convert it to rooms and a kitchen for the older children. Unfortunately, work on the clinic seems to have come to a full stop. They are waiting for the plumber. These things can take so long in Zimbabwe…it is very frustrating! The nurse is still operating from a couple of rooms in the old Girls Department. I took a large bag of medical supplies with me. She was extremely grateful (even though some of the dressings had to be used on me when I mangled my foot on a rock!!!!).

My biggest cause for concern at the Home is the Creche. In the past they have had around 15 children (MRCH+ Staff kids) for a few hours in the morning, so the little room was adequate. Now they take children from the community, and for all day, so there are around 30-40 kids from 8.30-4.30, and they have their lunch + snacks there. The room is now totally inadequate, chairs and tables are broken, and dangerous, there are very few toys or teaching resources…even basics such as crayons and paper are scarce. Lunch and drinks are served up, and washing up done on an old desk in the corner. The children are divided into 2 classes (under 3’s and over 3’s) for teaching. They have to do this in the one room and the noise levels are unbelievable!! My dream for the future is for the building to be extended with a room for each class, a kitchen area for serving food and making drinks, with decent (and safe!) chairs and tables, plus new play and learning equipment. Also, the playground badly needs to be renovated, brightened up and made safe. At the moment it’s a health and safety minefield. While I was there a swing broke and a child was hurt (though fortunately not seriously).

Well, I had an amazing 3 weeks in Zimbabwe. I was treated like royalty. I think everyone felt encouraged by the fact that I was prepared to go out there and visit them in these difficult times. It was a privilege for me to be with them. We shared much laughter, and also some tears together. Despite the problems, a group of us went away for an idyllic weekend in Nyanga. It’s a really beautiful place and we had such a happy time there. I was so sad leave Zimbabwe at the end of my stay, but hopefully I’ll be back before too long.