Heather Chimhoga Orphan Care

Heather Chimhoga Orphan Care (PVO 05/2009) came out of the concern about the plight of children, affected by the HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe. It has a long history dating from 1997, during this time, focus was on improving school structures. In the year 2001, the organization had become one of the organizations addressing the impacts of HIV and AIDS with a focus on school feeding orphans and vulnerable children in schools. HCOC was registered in 2009 under the Private Voluntary Organizations Act (chapter 17:05) by the Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Welfare. The organization has continued to provide psychosocial support to children in difficult circumstances in Murewa District, Mashonaland East Zimbabwe. The purpose for the establishment of this Organization was to cater for the immediate needs of children in difficult circumstances with a focus on health and nutrition, education, shelter and social care.

Our vision, “A smiling and empowered child growing in good health, love and care, with better life opportunities, and living standards”. “Our mission is to enhance the child’s social, spiritual, emotional, psychological and economic wellbeing, working with communities and important stakeholders to ensure that children in difficult circumstances have access to psychosocial support services’’.

Our Services:

a) Care and treatment

We run a child-friendly clinic 'The Nest Clinic' where children in difficult circumstances are benefiting from the current child-centered health services for school going children and those under the age of 5 years and some guardians. Ambulance services are offered to school children and community members. Ensuring adherence to treatment and continuous care to 30 chronically ill OCV to ensure that they live long healthy lives.

b) Nutrition

Malnourished children and chronically ill get nutritious food packs monthly to enhance effectiveness of ART and prevent further related complications

c) School Feeding Program

We run the school feeding program providing lunch which consist of beans, chicken, vegetables, matemba, rice with peanut butter and sadza to 673 children in three established feeding points. No school dropouts among children living in difficult circumstances are being recorded as this program has helped children to remain in schools. School feeding have gone far beyond the plate of food, producing high returns in the following critical areas: education and gender equality, health and nutrition; social protection and agriculture.

d) Education

Our services aim to support children to attain relevant education and skills, according to their interests and potential, so that they are able to secure a suitable job in order to have a decent living. We believe this to be a prerequisite for an independent and self-determined life thus breaking the cycle of poverty. The services we provide include supporting payment of fees for day, boarding and university students, provision of school uniforms and stationery, employability/career guidance, access to scholarships, educational tours. This is an integrated activity and HCOC is supporting 238children in difficult circumstance through the provision of scholastic materials; we are getting a very big challenge in terms of funding considering the level of poverty resulting from the 20-year war. There are many children in difficult circumstances that need support but the capacity of HCOC cannot support beyond the 238 beneficiaries.

e) Child protection and Support Program

Strengthening of the referral pathway systems for the protection of children in difficult circumstances and support to community led initiatives on child protection, participation in child protection awareness’s, meetings and workshops

f) Reproductive Health

The organization is promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) both to the adolescence in the communities and schools, there is also prevention of sexually transmitted diseases to adolescent youth through condom distribution, guidance and counselling referral service.

g) Mental Health

Due to poverty, HCOC has identified the effects of poverty in youth characterized by alcoholism, drug and substance abuse. We implement through guidance and counselling, Youth rehabilitation and skills promotion/capacity building centre and community outreach.

h) Sustainable agriculture

Training of caregivers and guardians on sustainable agriculture, established conservation plots which acts as a demonstration site to the community, advocacy campaign to create awareness on the massive deforestation and land degradation, encouragement of the communities to engage in environmental conservation through different methodology such as fruits and tree planting.