She founded Shungu Dzevana Trust Children’s Home in Hatcliffe, Harare in April 1992, but is quick to point out that “it is not me who initiated the project, but children living on the streets of Harare who approached me for assistance one chilly, windy morning.”
She told The Zimbabwean how it all started with an accidental meeting with three children living on the streets.
“I was walking along Angwa Street in Harare one morning going to my computer lessons at Daventry House, when three boys living on the streets approached me for food. They said from the way I walked they had realised that I was a sister (nun) from the Roman Catholic Church. That surprised me as I was dressed in ordinary clothes.
“They told me life on the streets had become unbearable and the chilly weather had claimed the life of one of their colleagues. I told them that as I was a nun I lived at the church and had no shelter of my own to share with them. I took them to a supermarket and bought them three loaves of bread, two litres of juice, plastic cups and bath soap and we went to the Harare Gardens for a feast.
“A strong friendship developed between the children and myself, which resulted in my sister, the late Police Officer Commanding Kwekwe District, Chief Supt Angela Mutyambizi, providing shelter and clothing for 15 children. From their stories I realised that most children were living on the streets out of desperation. It is the responsibility of society to shelter and feed them.
“From then on I bought food for them daily until I left Zimbabwe for studies in Spain. While away I would send money to my late sister, who had taken custody of a number of the children, to help with their feeding and education requirements. My sister later turned foster parent for the children.
“The two of us managed to mobilise resources and pay fees for the children at both day and boarding schools. I then established Shungu Dzevana Home as the number of children dumped by mothers and those living on the streets increased.
“Over 130 children have passed through the Home since its formation. Most of them have become successful professionals in fields such as medicine, engineering, nursing and teaching. The home houses children as young as minutes old to teenagers at both secondary and university level.
“Those at primary school are enrolled at Hatfield Junior and Chishawasha Mission while those at secondary level are at Mission Boarding Schools. Others are at Mhondoro and Rio-Tinto Secondary Schools. “A number of graduates now express their appreciation through providing school fees and clothing for the next generation of children at the home.”
Sister Mutyambizi said that, like any other child, those living on the streets need love, kisses and embraces – as well as a decent burial, should the need arise.
She paid tribute to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority for giving duty rebates on clothes donated for the home from German well-wishers. Some local citizenss are contributing towards payment of school fees and also visit the home and give love to the children.
To help sustain its activities, Shungu Dzevana runs commercial chicken and piggery projects in Hatfield and Mhondoro. Currently the centre is home to 331 children, including those living with foster parents.
Recently ZB Bank donated groceries, starter feed for chicken and pig projects to the home while Barclays Bank chipped in with beds, blankets and bedding sheets. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority provided transport for a grinding mill and other items to Mhondoro. Other organisations donated computers and furniture.
“Children Homes are an indigenisation initiative which should benefit from government funds meant for small and medium projects. Government should assist in this regard through the ministry of Social Welfare,” said Sister Mutyambizi, adding that it was everyone’s responsibility to help with the children’s upkeep.
She took a swipe at public institutions such as ZESA and local authorities for charging ‘unrealistic’ fees for services sometimes not delivered to the centre.
Post published in: News