September 2014 Newsletter

The September newsletter is now available. There is an interesting update on many aspects of life at the Home with great news that the generator has now been installed and around the same time the Home’s water system has been updated.

This extended newsletter also has a report on Rev. Margaret Mawire’s visit to the UK and check out Nick Garrett’s report on his Mega Marathon fundraising event.

Please also note that this years Christmas Card packs are now available from the Chairman. You can see the latest Flyer detailing the designs available. Mixed packs will be sent out in the early autumn unless you specify differently.

Welcoming our new Treasurer David Graaff

A warm welcome to our new Treasurer, David Graaff, we look forward to him working with us for the benefit of MRCH and the children of Zimbabwe.

“My family has a long standing connection with MRCH, my parents knew the Rev Matthew Rusike and his wife when they started taking in street children in the 1950s and they both supported the charity through the rest of their lives. There is a slide show on You Tube of a visit I made to the home with my mother in 2003.”

David created an informative video of her trip to the Home in 2002.

Goodbye and thank you Paddy

After 18 years, our Treasurer Paddy Coles, who is a founder member of our organisation, has stepped down. He has been a stalwart of the committee and was instrumental in our becoming a registered charity. More recently Paddy was involved in getting our Virgin Just Giving registration established, raising the profile of our charity.

Our sincere thanks for all the dedicated work and commitment he has shown, spreading the word about MRCH. We look forward to his continued involvement and guidance as a valued member of the committee.

June 2014 Newsletter

The June version of our newsletter has been issued early so that you can see the details of Rev. Margaret Mawire’s fundraising visit. Take a look at the itinerary to see if she is going to be visiting near you. If you wish to attend any of these events, please contact the Chairman for further details.

Also in the Newsletter is the fantastic news that a new generator is up and running at the Home. Well done to all those involved in the fundraising for this fantastic bit of kit. It has already made a huge change to the Home.

March 2014 newsletter

The March newsletter is now available with an update from Margaret about progress at the Home.

Rev. Margaret Mawire will be visiting the UK later this year to raise awareness about the Home and to support fundraising activities when at speaking events. She will be here for 3-4 weeks in June. If you feel able to offer accommodation or indeed wish to host a meeting for Margaret to speak at please get in touch soon. We are starting to plan her trip now.

Fundraising event – An evening with Henry Olonga in Tonbridge

Henry OlongaCricketer, singer and Christian, Henry Olonga, is speaking at St Stephen’s Church, Waterloo Rd, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 2SW for a fundraising evening in aid of the Home on 26th April (7:30pm for 8pm).

The proceeds go towards purchasing a generator for the Home.

Tickets are £10, include a light refreshment and are available from

Tickets: Tonbridge Christian Book Centre,9 Quarry Hill Parade, Tonbridge, TN92HR or Tel: 01732 364897 or www.tcbconline.co.uk

Fundraising – David Graaff and Wayne Cooper Mauritania drive

David and Wayne will be driving an elderly Mercedes Benz the 2,700 miles from London through Morocco and the Western Sahara to the Mauritanian border in West Africa.

The plan is to get sponsorship for the journey and to sell the car in the no-man’s land on the Mauritania border. All donations will go direct to FoMRCH, and the value of the vehicle when it sells will be David’s contribution. Wayne will be sharing the driving and navigation (and tent). Thank you and good luck guys.

Fundraising for a new generator for the Home

MRCH supporters Graham and Lynda Jones are raising funds to buy a new generator.  They write:

“The electricity supply in Zimbabwe is erratic and MRCH can sometimes go for days without power.  That creates real problems.  Cooking has to be done on open fires and firewood is getting hard to find.  Projects like tomato-growing need water that has to be pumped.  Meat can’t be frozen so sometimes goes to waste.  Drugs for children with HIV/Aids can’t be kept refrigerated.  When the power is off, computers sit useless.

“When we visited MRCH last year, it was clear that a new generator would make a huge difference.  The home aims to cover fuel and maintenance, so we’re looking to raise £17,000 for the purchase and installation.  If we beat our target, the extra will help towards the running costs.”

Please help and donate online.