Zimbabwe

The political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe has brought rising poverty and social decline. As in most countries, rural households register a higher poverty rate than urban households. Most farm incomes and production are inadequate and food shortages are rising. About 40 per cent of the road network is in poor condition, water and sanitation coverage is very poor, and railway freight traffic has declined by more than half since 1990, effectively isolating rural communities from markets.

In 2020 there are more than a million people living with HIV in Zimbabwe.

With the rise in unemployment and consequent male migration away from rural areas, households headed by women and children are increasingly common. These households are nearly always the most disadvantaged. Other vulnerable groups in rural areas are families with small plots of land, or without irrigation in dry areas, or without access to animals for draught power.

Working in partnership with Jubilee Campaign we opened ‘Jessica’s House’ day Centre in January 2016 initially serving 25 children, aged 0-5, providing a structured education, nutritional meal, medical care and proper sanitation. This especially benefits orphaned children and those from child-headed families living in a rural village close to Mutare. In January 2018 we opened a school on the site for 45 primary aged children who no longer have to walk the treacherous 5 mile journey to the nearest primary school.

Previously the village had no water supply and young children traveled 2 miles to collect water. This is a particularly dangerous journey where young children have been known to fall victim to rape and abuse. We have now drilled two bore holes in the village which benefit the entire community by providing clean water and preventing children from travelling the dangerous journey.

Jessica’s House

Eddison Mubengo joined Epiphany Trust late last year. Originally from Mutare, in Eastern Zimbabwe, he grew up in Marange rural community, a little village that is paradoxically known for both its poverty and its great diamond deposits.

Through our longstanding partnership with Jubilee Campaign, the Trust has been aware of the challenges faced by villagers in rural communities in Zimbabwe – particularly farming communities reliant on a variable maize crop – for several years.

So Eddison has joined the Trust in order to establish Jessica’s House, a centre that will provide: a structured education; a nutritional meal; medical care; and proper sanitation, for 25 children, aged 0 to 5.

Based in Muzondo village, which has a surrounding population of about 4500 people, the centre will make a significant difference to the community, as well as helping orphaned children (including children from child-headed families).

In addition, there are plans to establish a bole-hole in the village, as part of the project, delivering clean water to the local population.

There is a great deal of support for the project locally, as well as significant scope for further growth – if successful, the project could be extended to benefit children aged between 5 and 12. Updates on progress will follow (including photos from Muzondo), which is scheduled to open in early 2015.