Children and young people whose lives have been dominated by cycles of frustration and hopelessness have found a new normal as well as comfortable life at Mustard Seed Communities centre, located in Woodville on the outskirts of Bulawayo. Here they have found loving care, education, good nutrition and empowerment programmes.
“Mustard Seed Communities runs three residential homes for orphans as well as children with various forms of disability. We also cater for HIV/AIDS infected or affected children from birth. Each home is supervised by a house mother,” said Takawira Singadi, the centre’s administrator in a recent interview.
The 52 children are accommodated in a Christian family setting where all the necessary social, medical, spiritual and educational nurturing is provided by highly trained staff.
“We try to provide a typical family life. In this family we have seven girls and nine boys. It is difficult to tell that the children are from different backgrounds – they live a happy life here,” said Tecla Samundani, one of the house mothers.
A pre-school, Little Angels learning Centre, offers the underprivileged toddlers free basic education. It extends its free services to local children who stay within the vicinity of the centre. All the children are given free breakfast and lunch as well.
The centre has currently a combined enrolment of 200 children, including both the day scholars and boarders.
One of the most remarkable achievements of Mustard Seed Communities is the setting up of The Potter’s House – a training centre which assist local disadvantaged youths in acquiring business entrepreneurship skills. The centre trains youths in chicken rearing, baking, dress making and décor, candle making and vegetable gardening.
“For those youths who are not good in practical subjects we also offer music and theatre programmes,” explained Martin Jeaka, the sister in charge of the training centre. Some of the graduates from the training centre have now been employed as trainers.
Admore Sibanda is one of the youths who have undergone a confectionery course at the centre.
“Mustard Seed Communities has really changed my life. I am now a professional baker and given resources to acquire my own machinery I can do wonders I tell you. My wish is to set up my own small bakery in my area if I happen to get money to buy confectionery making equipment,” said Sibanda.
Vanessa Mukwala, 19, has just completed a sewing course at the centre. She said her efforts to start her own dressmaking business were being hindered by lack of machinery.
“You will be astounded at what I can achieve in a short space of time if you can give me sewing machines and seed money to start my own business. Mustard Seed Communities has shown me the light of life. I have been also trained in décor and candle making,” she said.
The centre is currently in discussions with various stakeholders such as the Ministry of Gender and Youth Affairs with regards to employment opportunities for the graduates. “The centre’s mandate is to give the youths the necessary skills to assist them to start their own business ventures. Where possible, we try to absorb some of them into our system. If stakeholders like the Ministry of Gender and Youth Affairs can assist in pulling resources together for the youths and find them a place to collectively operate from, that will be great,” she added.
Mustard Seed Communities also runs four nutrition programmes in Pumula, Cabatsha, Sauerstown and Woodville and a feeding programme where a total of 500 children receive a meal every day.
Run by a board of trustees, the organisation was founded in 1978 in Jamaica (West Indies) with the primary mission of catering, sharing and training of the most vulnerable members of society before being introduced in Zimbabwe in 2002.
It survives through the generosity of individuals and proceeds from its income-generating projects, including the bakery, farm and candle making projects.
Post published in: News