July 2013
Zimbabwe has 1.6 million orphans. Even the small
percentage of children who have received a placement in
an orphanage are missing out on the most important thing
a child needs in order to grow up healthy and whole: a
family. The research is clear that an orphanage should
be the last option for an orphaned child, when at all
possible sponsorship should be provided to keep the
child with relatives and when this is not possible a
foster or adoptive family should be a priority.
Christians would agree that we have been called to care
for the orphans in their distress, however as the global
orphan care movement has been shifting from orphanages
and children’s homes to foster and adoptive families
many church leaders in Zimbabwe find themselves
struggling to keep up. How does a pastor help his
congregation care for the orphans if he doesn’t even
know how the adoption process works?
That’s where
we come in. I am part of this fabulous team of
Zimbabweans that helps to equip and empower pastors and
leaders to understand and teach about the social welfare
system in Zimbabwe and the importance of caring for
orphans. As a therapist I also get to counsel children
in orphanages and provide training for potential
adoptive parents.
Zimbabwe is indeed in an
orphan crisis and the single most important predictor of
outcome for a child is the connection they have with
their primary caregiver. Without a loving and nurturing
environment a child will struggle to connect with others
throughout his whole life.
I have been given an
unbelievable opportunity to train with the team who
created one of the most successful therapeutic
interventions for children with attachment issues. I have also been accepted into a
masters program in missional leadership that will give
me a unique perspective in working with the local
Zimbabwean pastors.
I have received scholarships for
much of the costs of these trainings, however I need to raise $9,600 to
cover the travel and the rest of the course fees .
Thank you all who play such a critical role through
your prayer and financial support.
"Sympathy is no substitute for action."
— Dr. David Livingstone, pioneer missionary to Africa
