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Mzimuni Area Program

Sponsor a child

Program Type

Community Development

Planned Life Cycle

2015 - 2031

Location

Zimbabwe

Areas of Focus

Health | Livelihoods 

Program Timeline

Status: Active

Progress

9,999children and adults were trained on child protection, including positive parenting, children's rights and early marriage

Progress

8,500people participated in trainings, counseling or activities on preventing and responding to infectious diseases, such as COVID-19

Progress

2,850children received school supplies and resources for their education including books, backpacks, uniforms and bicycles

A white jeep driving through a muddy path, featuring a rainbow and trees in the background.

Program Details

Context

The rural community of Mzimuni is home to almost 18,000 people, many of whom make their living as subsistence farmers. Natural disasters like prolonged drought negatively impact harvests and earnings. Those who can't raise livestock or sell crops often resort to brick moulding or illegal gold mining. Some families depend on money that family members send back from their jobs in South Africa or Botswana.

Youth who aren't in school may be found heading across the border in search of work. This puts children at risk of abuse and exploitation"especially girls. Many families in Mzimuni have also felt the sting of HIV and AIDS, and there are more than 3,400 orphans in the community. These children not only struggle to continue their education, but to afford life's basic necessities.

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Challenges
Education
In Mzumini, there are few schools, and some students are forced to walk hours to get to school. This leaves them exhausted, unable to complete their schoolwork and vulnerable to danger along the way. Girls especially are at great risk of being harassed on long travels. There are no preschool programs available for younger children to attend.

Families in poverty struggle to cover school fees and not all parents prioritize education. Schools have difficulty finding qualified teachers and updated, engaging learning materials. As a result, most students cannot read, write, or do basic math. Children who are not registered at birth face a unique challenge: without official documentation, they cannot write Grade 7 exams, or progress to the next grade. This forces many children to dropout and abandon their education.

Health Care
Many children, especially those under the age of five, do not enjoy good health. The youngest are often underweight and malnourished, suffering primarily from respiratory infections, pneumonia, and diarrhea. A long trek to one of the community's three health centres prevents many parents from vaccinating their children. For some, including pregnant or nursing mothers, the walk is almost 30 km. Only one facility has a qualified midwife and maternity ward, forcing more than 75% of women to give birth without professional care.

Food
Families in Mzimuni struggle to eat nutritious meals year-round. Many farmers grow corn, harvesting anywhere from 20 to 500 kg of food a year. This rarely lasts them until the next rainy season, so they often have no choice but to survive on one meal a day. For children, this leads to stunting in their growth and development.

Few community gardens exist and those that do often have just green vegetables. The lack of food diversity keeps families from enjoying a proper, balanced diet. Many farmers endure poor yields due to drought and limited training. There are few resources available for them to renew the worsening soil and as a result, some become dependent on food aid.

HIV & AIDS
The HIV rate among pregnant and nursing mothers is very high in Mzimuni, which puts children at great risk of contracting the illness through mother-to-child transmission. Education and provision of preventative care is scarce.

Water and Sanitation
Sicknesses such as diarrhea are common in Mzimuni, and are due to poor sanitation and hygiene. This is because many families don't have access to safe drinking water or latrines....
Plans
Education
To ensure children can access and benefit from quality education, World Vision will assist the community to:
  • Establish reading camps and train teachers on new methods to improve literacy.
  • Support schools with new teaching materials, as well as improved infrastructure.
  • Promote the importance of education to parents and increase their involvement.
  • Offer career guidance for youth between the ages of 15 and 18 to support their transition out of school.

Health Care
With the partnership of Canadian sponsors and the community, World Vision will work to:
  • Improve access to maternal health care. Provide health care staff with additional training.
  • Boost nutrition of new mothers and children, with special attention to those under age five.

Food
To ensure parents in Mzimuni can provide for their families, World Vision will partner with the community to:
  • Enhance the quality of crops and livestock and increase production.
  • Build proper irrigation systems and establish good resource management to ensure greater food yields.
  • Share information on conservation and strengthen community resilience against crop-destroying natural disasters.
  • Increase household income and establish savings groups and market networks for farmers.

HIV & AIDS
To combat the spread and stigma of HIV & AIDS, World Vision will partner with the community to:
  • Educate community members of all ages on the spread and prevention of HIV.
  • Provide care and support to those impacted by HIV and AIDS.

Water and Sanitation
In partnership with families and sponsors, World Vision will work with the community to:
  • Increase availability of safe water sources. Promote proper sanitation and hygiene practices.
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An image of children sitting on the ground in a classroom, writing in workbooks.

Results

Unless otherwise stated, data presented on this page reflects the most up-to-date results of World Vision Canada programs reported between October 2022 and September 2023, and any previous fiscal years available. Previously reported data may not match the current presentation as we continuously receive and refine data from our programs. If you have any questions, kindly reach out to us.