Suffer, the little children of Zimbabwe
Above: Belinda Wilson, Administrator at the Institution.
BULAWAYO – There were harrowing tales of new born babies abandoned by their mothers under horrific circumstances. One child was rescued from a pit that was partially filled with water.
A plastic bag had been placed over its head, a rope secured around its body and a large stone tied to the other end of the rope to act as a weight, in the hope that the baby would drown! It is fairly obvious that the head wrap was meant to alternatively suffocate the unfortunate child.
Accounts such as this brought tears to the eyes of listeners.
The occasion marked a tour of a local Children’s Home, Isaiah’s Umusi Wothando, by the First Secretary at the British Embassy in Zimbabwe, Keith Scott and his Fiancée Carly. The narrator was Belinda Wilson, Administrator at the Institution. Keith had earlier contacted Simon Spooner, National Development Officer at the Zimbabwe Development Trust (ZDDT), on recommendation of Hon. Eddy Cross, M.P., and Bulawayo South.
Apparently, Carly had received a large consignment of clothing, toys and school books from children, at Galmpton Church of England Primary School, in the United Kingdom.
She had intended to distribute some of these goods to an orphanage in Bulawayo. Team ZDDT, obliged by selecting Isaiah’s Umusi Wothando, (Isaiah’s Homes of Love). This institution is housed in a big old bungalow, set in rambling, well tended grounds, situated in leafy Suburbs; 5 minutes drive east along the Old Esigodini Road.
Accompanying the First Secretary and Carly on their tour, were Bruce Mtengwa, The Trust’s Bulawayo Provincial Development Officer, and Lewis Jones, Regional Co-ordinator and Field Correspondent at ZDDT. Belinda acted as guide, pointing out the Centre’s various functions. Tea was served in the spacious living room at the tour’s end.
Highlight of the day was distribution of goods which had been brought along. It was a truly delightful experience, to witness the joy on the children’s faces, as various items of clothing; toys and books were unpacked and handed over.
Invited Guest and Councillor for Ward 5, the area in which Isaiah’s Homes of Love is situated, Dr. John Ferguson, could not attend the event, due to pressing work commitments.
Established March, 2004, Isaiah’s Umusi Wothando (IUW) is a faith-based community initiative that assists with rehabilitation of abandoned babies in the City of Bulawayo and surrounding areas.
The Organisation’s founding spiritual out-look is to give glory to God, through the essential work for which it is responsible. Its vision seeks to integrate abandoned babies, orphans and children in desperate need of care, into loving families and communities.
This ties in very well with the Homes’ mission, which aspires to lovingly care for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of abandoned babies in particular, while aiming to facilitate their fostering and adoption into well balanced family environments. The Institution also tries to assist families, (often through the extensions of these), to care for their own babies, where this is viable, while at the same time facilitating reunification between babies and their parents, should this be appropriate.
The Homes’ Founders were prompted into establishing the Institution, due to an occurrence of alarmingly increased numbers of abandoned babies in Bulawayo, during the past decade and lack of available places at orphanages. Also taken into account, in this instance, was the inability of authorities, to effectively deal with the circumstances. A major contributing factor to this situation may most probably be attributed, to dynamics surrounding the prevailing HIV/AIDS epidemic in Zimbabwe generally and the City in particular.
Isaiah’s Umusi Wothando runs two Homes and is currently caring for 24 children, aged from newly born to 3 years, at its Heyman Road premises in Suburbs, Ward 5, while the North End centre, Ward 2, caters for 10 children, whose ages range between 3 and 11 years. Almost every one of those at the first establishment, were abandoned soon after birth.
Isaiah’s Umusi Wothando, (Isaiah’s Homes of Love), is administered by a Trust, composed of men and women of integrity. Being properly constituted, it is registered with the Ministry of Social Welfare in Zimbabwe. The Organisation relies entirely upon the good will of well wishers for support of its work in local communities.
Organisations, or individuals wishing to assist this most worthy cause, may do so by using the contact details listed below:
Isaiah’s Homes of Love, 57 Duncan Rd., Suburbs. Bulawayo. Zimbabwe. P.O. Box 2361, Bulawayo. Zimbabwe.
Telephone: +263-9-64472/74 (Office), +263-9-230504 (Home).
Email:
Alternatively: ZDDT 130A Josiah Tongogara St., Bulawayo. Zimbabwe.
Telephone: +263-9-68910 Email: