Its been seven months since my last post. Perhaps this is a result of some of the challenges i faced over the last few months. I have learned that setting up and successfuly running a charity is not plain sailing. Though one may have the desire to save and change the world thats not enough. Its the begining yes but only that. Having proper systems in place and getting money in the form of donations is also so important. When my money ran out it was difficult for me to continue paying fees for all the kids. As a result two of the kids dropped out of school. Elizabeth (not her real name) who had gone back into the school system got pregnant again and has now dropped out of school for the second time. I dont know what her future holds. Its like a vicious circle of poverty but even now i know she can still turn her life around. Another young boy has dropped out of formal school and gone to a college which is much cheaper than the schools. My heart is so sore because i feel i have failed these children. On a brighter note Faith finished writing her o levels and all her siblings are still in school. Oh God please help us to help these children. Give me wisdom Lord so that i can help. One of the things i know is that I am not a quitter and I know that I can only fail when I stop trying. One day we will have a testimony. God bless you!

Identity

In Zimbabwe not having identity papers can cause numerous problems. Without a birth certificate it's difficult to apply for a place in the school system. You cant apply for a passport or a national ID. Without an ID you cannot open a bank account without a passport you cannot travel.

This is a growing problem that orphans face. Many times even for them to get sponsorship for school fees the donor needs proof that the child's parents are actually deceased. There are various instances where people have abused the system and applied for funding for children whose parents are still living. Hence the need for this proof. Both the birth certificate and the death certificate of the parents are needed and in many cases none of the above are available.

Children are left in limbo and many times relatives they stay with may not be willing to provide affidavits or just take out the time to go to the relevant buildings, wait in the queues and get it over and done with.

I was really proud of one of our children Faith who took it upon herself to ensure that she obtained death certificates for both her parents and then birth certificates for herself and three of her siblings. She turned 18 a few months ago so she also obtained a national ID card too. What she has done will considerably make the future easier for herself and her siblings.

It is so important that we encourage parents to take birth certificates for their children. And if there are children that have been left in your care ensure that they have birth certificates. Give these children the identity that is their right.

Our kids are doing well in school. Danny who lost his mum last year September and is in primary school was selected as a prefect. He is so excited. Some of the kids are also writing national exams this year. One is writing O' levels and another is writing grade 7 exams.

I look at these kids and I think to myself Life is going on for them because they can go to school. Even in the absence of their parents. And I just wonder about all the other orphans who have no one to pay fees for them. What are they doing? Where are they now? I read in one of the local papers about a young girl of about 14 who had been married off because the family could not afford to take care of her. What is the fate of that child?

To put a child through primary school costs less than $40 per term and secondary school is between $70 - 150 at government schools. So many times we are in a position to take care of just one child and what a difference it would make.

Both my parents were orphans. My mum and her siblings were raised at a Catholic Mission. My mum went on to study nursing in Ireland and met my dad in the UK where he was also studying Economics and accounts. Both had been orphans but because someone took an interest in them and cared, their future turned out for the better. Not only does it enhance that childs life but it enhances your life too.

I have an American friend who stays in Harare. She has taken some orphans into her home. One was in a child headed family and the other two were staying with elderly grandparents. One of the girls has now finished o' level and did well. The other two are still in school and one of them is a great athlete and has had an opportunity to travel to neighboring countries to represent the nation.

Everyone can make a difference, it may be a small contribution but can make an impact for a life time. Think about it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas is a time of loving and giving. I think it's the best season of the whole year because there is an increase in goodwill and love just flows.

All our children are doing well. The school year just came to an end and the kids are enjoying a six week break before they enroll into their new classes.

I would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a blessed new year.

Getting Stronger

I really feel that as an organization we are getting stronger. We are still taking baby steps but with much more confidence. Thus I feel that soon we will be running.

We are now taking care of six children. Two in Secondary school and four in Primary school. I was so proud the other day when I went to Elizabeth's School and the teachers told me about how well she is doing and how well she has blended back into school. Even when you look at her you see a young woman who is content and who knows where she is going. God really is a God of second chances.

Patrick & Gift are two brothers whose parents passed away some years ago and they were brought up by their 17 year old brother at the time. their brother sacrificed school so that he could find a job and be able to take care of his siblings. With the economic hardships in Zim the last few years he has been unable to find work and thus has been unable to pay fees for the children. We have children who are living hero's and many times they go unnoticed and unthanked. They take on the role of parents without hesitation even though they are children themselves. God bless them and may he shower them with more than they could ask or imagine.

Faith and her four siblings lost their mother two months ago. Faith who is the oldest is seventeen and the youngest child her half brother is only one year old. Faith's Father died about six years ago leaving her mother to raise four young children, a story that is all too familiar and one that is told over and over again in different families.

Thier elderly maternal grandmother has come from the rural area to live with the Children in their homely two roomed house. She like many of her age mates has taken up the responsibility of raising her childen's children. And though many times she may not be able to take care of all their financial needs she certainly gives love, warmth, security in a world that has been turned upside down. we salute her and many women like her.

There is a need for these families to start income generating projects. I have learnt however, that many times it is difficult to talk to someone about projects when they are hungry, have no money and don't know how to send the children to school. the important thing at times like this is to meet the immediate needs. We need to provide food, fees, clothes, money and the like.

We have also started working on our initiative to give children more access to books, the building up of libraries and creation of a reading culture. One of the schools we are working with has indicated that they would like some help in building up their library so that is where we start. I will be giving you updates as we go along and I promise I will start to make our updates more regular.

If you would like to help with donation of books please contact me.

Step by step

Hi all!

I know that its been a long time since I posted anything but i have not stopped working for this cause.

Elizabeth is in school and doing really well. She was at first afraid that other children would give her a hard time about having been pregnant at such a young age and losing the baby. Fortunatly through God's grace she has not faced those kinds of problems. God really is a God of second chances. She is settled back into the school system and doing well at school. She has a future!

I think what helps too is that she has has some good support from her paternal aunt. Even though the aunt cannot carry her financially she has provided her with a roof over her head and makes sure that she has food in her stomach. She is lucky because not many children have that.

There are two more children we should be taking on board for next term. It's two sisters. they are orphaned and live in a home that their parents left for them. The older child is 14 and its a child headed home. Currently there are battles with other family members who want to take the home away from them and convert it for their own uses. This is one of the other problems that children face beacause as adults we fail to write wills. Relatives take advantage of this.

As you probaly know the World cup is being held in one of our neighbouring countries South Africa. Many of the proceeds of the games are going towards a campaign called One Goal. They have given us statistics that there about 72 Million children in the world that are out of school and 60% of them are in Africa and most are girls. That is a lot of children!

You know we can make a difference to just one childs life. You can change a childs past by making the future brighter. 72 million uneducated struggling adults is what we will create if we do nothing and the poverty in Africa will not end.

So we have a chance to make a difference now. Yes it's long term but we can do it. And we will do it, step by step.

Zimbabwe is currently working on a new constitution and one of the things that we want to advocate for as Bright Minds Bright Future is free primary school education so that at least every child gets a chance to learn how to read and write. We are also still working on creating libraries in various schools and locations so that children get exposure through reading. So if you have any books you would like to donate let us know.

Take care for now.

Moving Forward

It's a long time since my last update. We have been moving forward step by step. I have learned that it is so much harder than I thought it was to get a charity up and running. I understand now that one cannot just sort out all problems overnight but the charity grows day by day.

Well a quick update on Nyasha and her siblings. They eventually got into school sponsored by a church organisation. She came over to tell me. And the good thing is that I have not seen her or her siblings begging of late and thats a good thing. I have also learned that there are many charities / trust funds that have been set up all over Zimbabwe. The challenge however, is to be affective, to make a difference and not lie dormant.

We have a young girl that is starting school in the second term. We will call her Elizabeth although that's not her real name. Elizabeth is a vulnerable child. She lost her mother some years ago and had to stay with her aunt. After starting secondary school she got pregnant at 13 years of age and was sent by her aunt to stay at her boyfriends rural home. She gave birth to a little girl who lived for only a week.

Having lost her baby and with a boyfriend that was obviously not interested in her she decided to return to her aunts house. She has decided that she wants to go back to school and approached us for funding. We have decided to sponsor her and give her a brighter future.

The country is full of young girls who fall prey to older men because they many times have no source of income and think they are running for a better life. In reality these men are struggling themselves but to a young girl who has nothing they seem like they are the answer. My hope is that we can begin to empower these young women to know that there are other ways to survive and that they must perservere with their education because it will open so many doors for them.

We have also decided to steer the focus of the organisation to building libraries as well as sponsor school fees. There is a need to encourage a reading culture. Exposure to books and computers opens up a whole world for each person.

So if there is anyone out there who would like to donate books we would really appreciate it.

Until next time, stay blessed.