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.

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

 
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 café 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 café 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)

New well for Kubatana School – School latrines

     
Chinotimba Baptist Church near Victoria Falls and showing the Jesus video – Eastlea UCCZ – Ruwa Church

Want to help? Here’s how you can:

• Complete a standing order form –  Response Form Apr07 PDF (72 KB)
• Support our Feeding and/or Child sponsorship programmes – Smile Sponsor A Child Leaflet PDF (194 KB)
• Fundraise for Smile for our projects in Zimbabwe – visit our Fundraising page

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.