Making a difference in children’s lives

A determined and goal –oriented development practitioner, Mzeche (38) is the programmes coordinator for Hope for a Child in Christ (HOCIC), a Bulawayo-based Christian NGO. She has been a fierce champion of women’s and girls’ empowerment in her individual capacity and through HOCIC programmes.

“I have a passion for empowering the underprivileged in our society. Even at my church I have taken it upon myself to come up with programmes of assisting and empowering widows and orphans. I have been raising funds to sustain those programmes,” Mzeche told The Zimbabwean.

Mzeche has also been involved in the capacitation of communities in sustainable care programmes based on Christan values and ethics.

HOCIC is an interdenominational association that networks among over 50 churches in the area of child welfare and community based orphan care. It has been at the forefront of distributing food packs and paying school fees for orphans and less privileged children in the two districts of Insiza and Gwanda in Matabeleland North and five districts in Bulawayo Metropolitan province.

“Instead of handing out food hampers and paying school fees for the orphans, our focus is on economic support programmes and vocational training skills. We are now setting up sustainable income generating projects such as poultry and gardening to sustain the orphans and their families,” said Mzeche.

The organisation is also rehabilitating dams and dip tanks and promoting community gardens in rural areas. It has assisted a number of orphans in acquiring life surviving skills in tertiary institutions.

“I am very grateful to HOCIC for sponsoring my plumber course at Tshaka Vocational Training Centre in the city. I am now a qualified plumber and can take care of my family through my job,” said Shamiso Burusa, 21, whose tuition fees were paid for by HOCIC.

Jane Moyo recently completed her course in dress making. “Both my parents passed way and everyone in my family has been receiving monthly food hampers from HOCIC until I they managed to send me for a dress making course in town. Since I graduated last year, I have been sewing school uniforms and making enough money to sustain my family, “said Moyo.

HOCIC also focuses on psycho-social support programmes during which children’s clubs meet every Saturday and discuss issues such as child abuse and reproductive health. Resource persons from organizations such as National AIDS Council are invited to address the children.