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ON THIS PAGE: Project Manager / Feeding
& Sponsor A Child programmes
/ Water
wells / Schools /
Churches /
Want to Help?
Zimbabwe is a nation of economic uncertainties and deteriorating living
conditions. Inflation is now running at 4500%, putting the price of basic
commodities out of the reach of many people and causing extreme hardship. The
droughts over the past few years have further reduced food supply. Life
expectancy has decreased to 37 years and 5.5 million Zimbabweans currently live
with the HIV/AIDS virus. The suffering and poverty of many people in Zimbabwe is
further exacerbated by the turbulent political situation. Life in Zimbabwe is a
constant struggle for the majority of people living with a lack of education,
food and healthcare, and many have fled to neighbouring countries.
Smile has been working in Zimbabwe since 2002 and our projects concentrate on
feeding programmes, child sponsorship, education, micro-financing, and HIV/AIDS
awareness courses, with the aim of helping the disadvantaged to become motivated
and self-sufficient, with a brighter future to look forward to.
PROJECT MANAGER
Smile's Project Manager in Zimbabwe is
John Matiza.
John is a Zimbabwean who trained at Moorlands Bible College,
where he gained a BA (Hons) Degree in Applied Theology,
Community and Family Studies, and also gained a Higher Diploma
in HIV/AIDS Prevention, Management and Strategy, from the
College of Venereal Disease Prevention, London. John also gained
an MA in Missiology at All Nations Christian College.
Conditions are
deteriorating in Zimbabwe, and the food shortages continue to
present dificulties for John and his family, as well as our
feeding programmes. Please pray that the Lord will supply all
their needs. John has now been able to distribute the aid from
the sea container which arrived in November 2007. |
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John Matiza |

John watches as the official opens the container Smile aid awaiting
distribution John and family with generator

John, Ketani and the children, with Emily H and Emily F, who are on a Smile
Global Gap Year, with the new Smile 4x4 vehicle, ready to take aid to widows
and orphans in Bulawayo The two Emilies distributing aid at Epworth in Harare
THANK YOU to all those
who generously donated finances in order to provide John Matiza with a generator
and a new 4x4 vehicle. John writes: ""The
generator has been installed at the house. We want to take this
opportunity to thank Smile International and all our sponsors for making
this possible." The economic difficulties of the country have resulted
in frequent and prolonged power cuts and the family had been cooking
outside in the garden on an open fire.
Please pray for the Matiza family, for
the Lord's provision for all their personal and ministry needs, and for
protection for the family and their property, during these difficult
times for their country when law and order can often be lacking.

John presenting widow with goats
bought under the Gifts With Love Scheme Parents and teachers at AIDS awareness
workshop organised by Smile
David Combes travelled to Zimbabwe
with Smile for 3 weeks in September 2007 and spent his time helping John Matiza at
Smile feeding and school projects, distributing some of the aid and ministering
in local churches. We thank the Lord for John's ministry in helping to bring
smiles to many more faces, and encouraging the local Christians and Smile
project workers, as they face difficult situations and challenges.

Visit to Kubatana school Gifts for children at Fungai Vamwe village
David ministering at Luveve Church
FEEDING AND SPONSOR
A CHILD PROGRAMMES
Smile has feeding programmes for children in Epworth (a poor suburb of Harare)
and at Mukombami School and Fungai Village in Murewa,
75km east of Harare. These feeding programmes are funded from
voluntary donations. Regular donations to this scheme enable us to give
consistent help to those most in need, and also increase the numbers we can
feed. Many children still go hungry, causing suffering and adversely affecting
their concentration and education. If you would like to support our feeding
programme or sponsor a child in Zimbabwe, please download our
Smile Sponsor A Child Leaflet PDF (339 KB) which includes both of these options. Thank
you for your support.

Feeding at Mukombami and Kubatana Schools
Smile also supports a feeding
programme run by local shopkeepers for street children in Chinotimba, Victoria
Falls, and we would like to expand this as funds allow.
During their visit to Victoria Falls
in July 2006, the Doubledays took 12 street boys out to lunch at a local cafι on
Sunday which was a real treat for them. They saw where the boys were living and
how they are often fined and imprisoned just for living on the street. After
spending several days with the street children, they paid for train tickets for
6 of them who wanted to return back to their homes in Harare, to be reunited
with their families and to recommence their education.

Children at Chinotimba Clive with street boys at Victoria Falls Timothy
Doubleday with street boys enjoying a cafι meal.
SCHOOLS WORK
In 2003-4 Smile built a pre-school
for AIDS orphans in the village of Fungai. The building has been used as a
community centre, medical clinic, various youth projects and a church on
Sundays. Micro-financing projects have included craft work, sewing projects,
bee-keeping, carpentry and artwork, bringing much-needed income and independence
to the villagers. Unfortunately the centre has lost its roof through storm
damage.

Smile pre-school and
community centre at Fungai in 2003 when newly built unfortunately now roofless
in May 2008
MUKOMBAMI
Smile also runs a child sponsorship
programme at Mukombami Junior and High School and has assisted with repairs and
building work to the school. The school, which was established in 1932 by the
United Methodist Church, is situated 57km from Harare and their 18 staff educate
640 children - 300 of whom have lost one or both parents through AIDS. The
school's vision is to be able to improve their premises and educational
facilities, so that pupils leave at Grade 7 proficient in reading, writing,
computer literacy and craft skills such as needlework, handicraft and food
production. The building itself is greatly in need of refurbishment and
redecoration, and needs more classrooms, staff accommodation, toilets and
furniture. Basic school equipment is required, such as text books, computers,
sewing machines and sports equipment. The kindergarten caters for a further 80
children and is in need of toys, paints, crayons and picture books. They also
require a borehole to provide fresh water. The school does now have electricity
and would benefit from the provision of audio visual equipment, printer and
photocopier.
MOLIFE
Smile is also seeking to help
Molife School which is in great need of text books and every type of school
equipment, repair and refurbishment of school buildings and teachers' houses,
including electricity supply, building of an admin block and repair of fences.
At present each text book has to be shared amongst many pupils which greatly
hampers learning. They have a structured plan of desired improvements for the
future, and are committed to providing the best school they can with the
resources available to them in their own words "To create a vibrant attractive
school which is efficient and effective in the delivery of all round education."
Smile wishes to bring their long-term vision forward as speedily as possible, so
the existing children do not leave the school without benefitting from the
improvements.
Smile is looking for ways to help
these and other disadvantaged schools, and if you would like to help these dreams
become a reality by donation, fundraising or child sponsorship please
contact the Smile office. A good education gives these needy children the means
to escape their poverty and become self-sufficient, responsible citizens of
their communities.

Visit in July 2006 to Mukombami School where Smile rebuilt
the roof Computer training Clive at Molife School
WATER WELLS
Many people have to fetch their water from polluted rivers and
lakes, which are often the breeding ground for bacteria and
parasites that cause serious illness and death. A well provides
clean groundwater and removes the necessity to fetch water from
great distances, which can take most of the day and is often
carried out by children who are thus deprived of their
education.
- A well can be
provided for £300.
- A water supply
consisting of pump, pipes and tap to bring water into a
village can cost as little as £45.
- The provision
of a latrine costs £55.
These items can bring huge improvements in the health and
qualify of life for a whole village, and help prevent many
health problems. If you would like to support our wells project,
please download our
Gifts With Love Catalogue PDF (2.5 MB) |
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New well for Kubatana School School latrines |
CHURCHES
Since 2002, Smile has been supporting churches in Zimbabwe by
helping with building projects and setting up projects in the churches to help
bring in necessary finances to sustain the church. In July 2006 Clive Doubleday
ministered at Falls Baptist Church. In partnership with Chinotimba Baptist
Church and Pastor Arnold, Smile showed the Jesus video in the remote Zambezi
Camp on the banks of the mighty Zambezi river to approximately 70 people, of
whom 20 made commitments to the Lord. Pastor Arnold said, "It was really good
for me having you in my church. The Sunday that followed we had four people who
received Jesus on the day of Jesus film. I hope they will remain as we continue
teaching them." In 2008 the Smile team accompanied John Matiza to Eastlea
United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe, and also visited Ruwa Church where they
distributed some of the aid.

Chinotimba Baptist Church near Victoria Falls and showing the Jesus
video Eastlea UCCZ Ruwa Church
Want to help?
Heres how you can:
If you would like to
support our work in Zimbabwe, donations may be made by credit card via
our page on the Just Giving website (www.justgiving.com/smileint/donate),
by calling 01689 870932 and giving us your details, or by sending a
cheque made payable to Smile International and addressed to PO Box 3,
Orpington, Kent, BR5 1WZ. Please mark your donation Zimbabwe thank
you for your support. Full details are on our
Donations page.
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