|
ABOUT US
Chiedza Child Care Centre was founded in
Harare, Zimbabwe in August 2001 by a group of concerned professionals,
academics and business people in response to the escalating need
to practical help for disadvantaged children in our society. Situated
in Ardbennie, on the outskirts of the city of Harare, the Centre
aims to provide a caring home for vulnerable children and to assist
the carers of children in dire circumstances in the community with
immediate needs while empowering them through income generating
projects.
The name “Chiedza” derives from the Shona name
meaning light – appropriately underlining the positive philosophy
and objectives which drive this project in the face of the daunting
challenges of HIV/AIDS and poverty caused by deteriorated economic
circumstances in Zimbabwe in the past few year.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic has wracked havoc in
many communities, particularly those who are economically stressed.
Many young parents are dying leaving their children in the care
of destitute and aging grandparents who have meager or no resourses
at their disposal. But traditional care systems, based on the extended
family are disintergrating in the face of economic hardships, urbanization
and other changes, making children all the more vulnerable. As of
2006, UNICEF reported that Zimbabwe has an alarming 1,600 orphans
due to the HIV pandemic. They went on to say that 1 in every 4 children
is infected with HIV. Institutionalizing such a vast number of need
children is quite unsustainable, so recent efforts have been focused
on encouraging extended family support where it is available but
this becomes difficult in the case of children with HIV/AIDS, chronic
illnesses or disabilities. Many of them have no means of care and
support at all.
Chiedza Child Care Centre has the
following broad objectives:
• To provide a caring home for orphans and children in difficult
circumstances, (including those infected by HIV/AIDS, chronic illnesses
and disabilities).
• To establish a home-based care program for children in difficult
circumstances (including those infected by HIV/AIDS, chronic illnesses
and disabilities)
• To co-operate with other resource centres in implementing
self help projects for orphans.
The mission for Chiedza Child Care Centre
is to support and care for vulnerable children in Zimbabwe. To this
end the Centre has tailored programmes which involve caregivers,
youths and children.
To be an efficient, caring and socially responsible provider and
supporter of vulnerable children in Zimbabwe.
For more information, view our presentation
|
