Over recent years there has been a distressing trend in Zimbabwe of babies being ‘dumped’ after they are born. This can be for a number of reasons but often key factors are an inability to care for the baby, or an unwanted pregnancy due to rape. To help address this trend, in 2008 ZOC purchased a house with four acres in the Marlborough district of Harare.

Although the house was in need of much repair, with the donations received we were able to renovate, extend and complete the main home in May 2009. The main house can facilitate 12 abandoned babies and phase 2 of the project (due to be completed mid 2010) will see the construction of two more homes on the site.

We have worked closely with local social services and council officers to ensure everything is done legally in the building and running of Jabulani. We have been commended on the way Jabulani was built, and is now being run. It is unlike any other children’s home in Zimbabwe, or even Africa due to the care, love and attention every individual child gets each and every day. It is our intention that this house can offer a hope, a home and a future to all these children for life.

Meet The Children Of Jabulani

At present there are six children in Jabulani and once we receive our new license that will allow us 16 more babies on the site. At present we have Kuda, Grace, Hope, Blessing, Daniel and Joseph. Without the Jabulani home all of these children would now be dead.

The Staff Of Jabulani Children’s Home

As well as providing the care for the children we have been able to employ 15 local workers on the site. All of the care workers are being trained to UK/US standards and are currently being assessed to NVQ levels in child care and hygiene.

The Jabulani manager is Christine who has spent over 40 years in the care sector in hospitals and care homes. Christine is originally from Rotherham and is still supported in her work by her local church, New Life Fellowship in Rotherham.

The other staff are;-

Christine (manager)

Shelter, Bibianna, Mel, Florence, Summary, Tellmore, Itai, Naome, Violet, Kuda

Maintenance – Terry & Oliver

Costs Of Running Jabulani – How To Help

The Jabulani home, once completed, needs to be sustained and maintained and we are always keen to hear from donors and fundraisers, Please contact us if you would like more details.

Can you help with the running costs of Jabulani Home? Could your church, business, friends or family help offset our costs as we expand and start helping more children?

The Costs of Running Jabulani are:

Staff costs – Care Workers, Maintenance, $120 (£80) per month

Food for babies, staff $200 (£135) per week

Nappies, baby clothes, medicines etc $50 (£35) per week

This is a total of $3000 (£2000) per month.

From 2011 we plan to set up our own pre-school onsite and this will mean we have to employ and train a teacher – would you like to sponsor the first Jabulani teacher from 2011?

If you would like to help in the financial support of this work please visit our online payment site at: www.justgiving.com/zimbabweorphancare/donate