Zimbabwe has undergone serious economic decline during the past 10 years which has resulted in an unemployment rate of over 85%. HIV/AIDS has also wrecked havoc on it’s population, leaving two million children orphaned.

In the town of Epworth, 15 kilometers from the center of Harare where the Matthew Rusike Children’s Project is located, many orphans are cared for in community by foster parents or in child-headed households. A majority of Epworth’s residents live below the poverty line and are caring for children with very limited resources. In order to continue much needed social services to the surrounding community, Matthew Rusike has development a number of economic empowerment projects to enable vocational skills and income generation for carers of orphans.

A tailoring workshop, community garden and poultry breeding project all aim to provide vocational skills, nutritional support and income for both participants and future development projects.

2011 Updates:

The project is currently in the first stage. The tailoring project is currently training 15 women. The garden developed within the Matthew Rusike grounds is cared for by 30 locals, with a small section set aside for children to plant and cultivate. There are 30 people currently involved in breeding and selling poultry. One-third of the produce from the garden and the poultry raised is available to families involved in the project for nutritional needs. The remaining two-thirds is sold in local markets and congregations.

Downloadable resources:

Project Sheet

You can support this project by donating to the It Takes a Village appeal