Help keep 3,750 children in school!

Mothers Give the Gift That Gives Back

We are very excited to update our supporters at GlobalGiving this holiday season on the successes and new initiatives of Mothers Support Groups in Zimbabwe as they work to keep children in school and foster change in their communities.

We are also delighted to share that thanks to your support, we are almost halfway to achieving our goal to help Mother Support Groups keep 3,750 children in school!

Mothers Changing Their Communities

Mother Support Groups are comprised of mothers and grandmothers who are committed to supporting the educations and aspirations of children in their communities. They strive to give children the educational opportunities that many of the women never had. Group members band together to come up with income-generating ventures that will help provide school supplies, uniforms and fees necessary for needy children to attend and stay in school.

Thanks to your generous donations, Mother Support Groups are able to continue their important work and we’re pleased to share the achievements of Starlight Mother Support Group in Chikomba East District, Zimbabwe.

Starlight Mother Support Group

Established in 2006, Starlight Mother Support Group, which is made up of 12 members, is an entrepreneurial group with a proven record of working to safeguard not only the future of children in their community, but also the wellbeing of their whole community and beyond.

“Mother Support Groups sacrifice a lot. They sacrifice their time and their money. They could use their money to do other things but they choose to help children who are suffering. They have become role models to other women in the community.”

-- Mr Chizema, School Headmaster, Chikomba East District.

In 2008 a seed grant from Camfed allowed the group to grow and provide food for their community members who were struggling to feed their families. More recently, in 2011, the group started a chicken-rearing project with a grant from Camfed. The project’s success has enabled the group to expand their income-generating activities.

This past June,  the group was contracted to cater a Chikomba East district high schools’ sporting event. Charging $1 per plate, Starlight Mother Support Group supplied meals – which included some chickens from their chicken-rearing project – for over 200 people. To date, the success of their income-generating activities has allowed the group to provide 40 needy children with exercise books, socks and uniforms, soap and maize. This support ensures that children can attend school well fed and with confidence in their appearance and ability to participate fully in school.

For Starlight Mother Support Group members, every day is an opportunity to give gifts to others around them and enrich their own business and entrepreneurship skills in the process.

Thank you for supporting Mother Support Groups throughout 2011 and particularly during this season of giving. We look forward to updating you on Mother Support Groups’ dedication and efforts to unlock a brighter future for children in their communities.

• Seasonal MSG Report 12/19/11 (PDF)
  

We are excited to update you, our supporters at GlobalGiving, on the efforts of Mother Support Groups in Zimbabwe as they work tirelessly to ensure children stay in school and succeed.  

 Mothers Volunteering for the Good of Future Generations

 Mother Support Groups, which are comprised of 10-30 women who are mothers and grandmothers, who had limited access to formal education, play a key role in ensuring a brighter future for needy children in their local communities. Driven by a desire to lift the next generation to greater heights, these groups of volunteers engage in income generating activities to ensure that children are adequately fed and have school supplies, uniforms and fees necessary to attend and stay in school. Thanks to your generous contributions, Mother Support Groups are able to continue their important work and we’re pleased to share the achievements of Pepukai Mother Support Group in Wedza, Zimbabwe.

Pepukai Mother Support Group, Wedza

Pepukai Mother Support Group, which is comprised of 11 members, is a vibrant group whose business savvy and commitment to children’s education has made a notable impact in their community.

In 2009, the group received a $100 grant from Camfed with which they started a baking project to generate income. Success of the project allowed them to eventually buy 50 chicks to start a chicken rearing project. This project has done so well the group now has 100 chickens and has allowed them to start other income generating projects like weaving mats and brooms and growing produce.

To date Pepukai Mother Support Group has supported four elementary school age children and seven high school girls with school fees, uniforms and clothes. Additionally they’ve bought and donated 50 notebooks and pens to a local high school.

“I have gained a lot from being part of an MSG. I have learnt that a child is everyone’s child. It’s important to help each other in the community because it makes life better. I have learnt that we do not have to wait for donors to give us aid, but that we ourselves can work with our hand and become donors”. 

                                      -- Mrs Rangarirai Musasanuri, Member of Pepukai Mother Support Group

Continuing Mother Support Groups’ Work

 Thank you very much for your continued support to help Mother Support Groups improve the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in their communities. We look forward to updating you on the incredible volunteer efforts of Mothers Groups in Zimbabwe.

We are pleased to update our supporters about Mother Support Groups in Zimbabwe, who are helping children stay in school with support from GlobalGiving.

Mothers Giving Back

 In the rural communities across Africa where Camfed works volunteer Mother Support Groups are stepping up to help many orphaned and vulnerable children who face severe obstacles.

With support and training from Camfed, members of Mother Support Groups who are mothers and grandmothers who weren't able to finish school themselves because of poverty, give of themselves to give the opportunity of education to others.

Gertrude Kariko a member of Nyangani Mother Support Group in Zimbabwe, has seen the transformative power of support from others in her own life. Her daughter, who is now a qualified nurse, was supported through school by Camfed. Gertrude now supports some orphans in her community to go to school. She says, “I sacrifice to help them but I know it is for a good reason. They can help themselves better in the future with an education than without it.”

Continuing Mother Support Groups’ Work

 We appreciate your continued support to help Mother Support Groups care for children in their communities. Through these groups, dedicated women are serving as mentors and role models for children and ensuring that they have all the supplies they need to stay in school and succeed.