ZDDT Appeal: Assisting the vulnerable children of Gweru

Written by Lewis Jones, ZDDT Field Correspondent Tuesday, 13 September 2011 10:53

GWERU, Zimbabwe – Faith based organisation, The Alois Haene Memorial Centre (AHMC), situated in Gweru’s CBD, was established and is run by the Roman Catholic religious congregation, Sisters of the Child Jesus. The Centre bears the name of a former Bishop of Gweru Diocese, who incidentally is also founder of the Congregation that administers AHMC.

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Aimed at perpetuating development and coordinating all projects run by the Sisters in the spirit Of its Founder, AHMC reaches out to underprivileged people, using a holistic approach, i.e., socially, morally, physically, spiritually and otherwise. The intention for this is to afford beneficiaries an opportunity to enjoy life to the full, in a Christian perspective, through community participation.

It is envisaged that in order to appropriately effect this, a situation must exist which would improve the dignity and quality of life for the vulnerable through shelter assistance and food aid.

Among targeted beneficiaries are the marginalised, especially women, home-based patients, the youth and children affected and infected by HIV/AIDS.

The Projects objectives are:

• To improve the psycho-social well-being of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) as well as off-spring who are mentally challenged survivors of abuse, exploitation and disastrous

circumstances.

• To improve community advocacy concerning the protection of children.

• To enhance the quality of life for orphans and vulnerable children of high-density habitats in the city of Gweru.

In its vision, the Alois Haene Memorial Centre seeks to establish a self reliant society where everyone enjoys decent living standards through the empowerment of vulnerable and marginalised
community members.

As its mission, the Institution intends to align interventions towards inculcating the spirit of self-reliance through education, skills training and development as well as sustainable agriculture.

Bearing this in mind, it is proposed to give special attention to the alleviation of suffering among those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS, with particular emphasis on children and the marginalised.

Enshrined in the Centre’s value system are:

• Accountability and transparency to all stakeholders and development partners.

• Elimination of all forms of discrimination.

• Respect for human dignity.

• Community participation.

• Gender equality.

Commitment.

In addition to the Alois Haene Memorial Centre, Sisters of the Child Jesus also administer the Rutendo HIV/AIDS Project for children, in Gweru’s Mkoba Township. The Scheme provides food hampers to child headed families, children who have lost their parents and orphans living with  incapacitated grandparents. The Project also takes into consideration, off-spring who are affected and infected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

In light of the foregoing and due to the high incidences of orphans and vulnerable children as a result of the HIV/AIDS scourge, the good Sisters, in May 2009, purchased Stand 6842/3 from the City of Gweru, with a view to building a home which would provide shelter for 60 to 70 affected and infected children. One house has been constructed to date, but activities at the site have stagnated due to lack of adequate funding.

Sisters of the Child Jesus are appealing to well-wishers for assistance to complete the Home’s construction as well as support for other interventions relating to the beneficial work of the Alois Haene Memorial Centre. Just some of the needs in this regard include; a four plate stove, kitchen utensils, tables chairs, beds, mattresses, bed-linen and curtains.

People willing to open up their hearts towards making a difference in the lives of the less fortunate, who stand to benefit from the good work being carried out at the Alois Haene Memorial Centre and the Rutendo HIV/AIDS Project, may do so using the following contact details:


Contact Person & Title
Address
Telephone / Mobile

Sister Catherine Ruzive SJI
22 Lobengula Avenue / Chaplin Road. Gweru. Zimbabwe.
+263 712 787 169

Alternatively, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

 

 

• To improve the psycho-social well-being of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) as well as off-spring who are mentally challenged survivors of abuse, exploitation and disastrous

circumstances.

• To improve community advocacy concerning the protection of children.

• To enhance the quality of life for orphans and vulnerable children of high-density habitats in the city of Gweru.

In its vision, the Alois Haene Memorial Centre seeks to establish a self reliant society where everyone enjoys decent living standards through the empowerment of vulnerable and marginalised
community members.

As its mission, the Institution intends to align interventions towards inculcating the spirit of self-reliance through education, skills training and development as well as sustainable agriculture.

Bearing this in mind, it is proposed to give special attention to the alleviation of suffering among those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS, with particular emphasis on children and the marginalised.

Enshrined in the Centre’s value system are:

• Accountability and transparency to all stakeholders and development partners.

• Elimination of all forms of discrimination.

• Respect for human dignity.

• Community participation.

• Gender equality.

Commitment.

In addition to the Alois Haene Memorial Centre, Sisters of the Child Jesus also administer the Rutendo HIV/AIDS Project for children, in Gweru’s Mkoba Township. The Scheme provides food hampers to child headed families, children who have lost their parents and orphans living with  incapacitated grandparents. The Project also takes into consideration, off-spring who are affected and infected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

In light of the foregoing and due to the high incidences of orphans and vulnerable children as a result of the HIV/AIDS scourge, the good Sisters, in May 2009, purchased Stand 6842/3 from the City of Gweru, with a view to building a home which would provide shelter for 60 to 70 affected and infected children. One house has been constructed to date, but activities at the site have stagnated due to lack of adequate funding.

Sisters of the Child Jesus are appealing to well-wishers for assistance to complete the Home’s construction as well as support for other interventions relating to the beneficial work of the Alois Haene Memorial Centre. Just some of the needs in this regard include; a four plate stove, kitchen utensils, tables chairs, beds, mattresses, bed-linen and curtains.

People willing to open up their hearts towards making a difference in the lives of the less fortunate, who stand to benefit from the good work being carried out at the Alois Haene Memorial Centre and the Rutendo HIV/AIDS Project, may do so using the following contact details:


Contact Person & Title
Address
Telephone / Mobile

Sister Catherine Ruzive SJI
22 Lobengula Avenue / Chaplin Road. Gweru. Zimbabwe.
+263 712 787 169

Alternatively, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it