Save the lives of children with cancer in Zimbabwe

As we conclude the second quarter of 2026, we extend our sincere gratitude to our GlobalGiving donors whose generosity continues to transform the lives of children battling cancer across Zimbabwe.

This quarter, your support helped children access life-saving treatment while strengthening efforts to improve early diagnosis and patient wellbeing. Through medicines, accommodation, nutrition, transport assistance, psychosocial support, and health worker training, more children are receiving the care they need to survive and thrive.

Together, we are helping children move from fear to future.

Story of Impact: From Fear to Future — Alia's Journey

In April 2023, three-year-old Alia from Chivhu, Mashonaland East, approximately 150 kilometres south-east of Harare, was diagnosed with Wilms tumor, a childhood kidney cancer.

Her family faced repeated hospital admissions, pneumonia, chemotherapy, and the emotional and financial strain of seeking treatment far from home. The diagnosis was devastating, and hope seemed increasingly difficult to hold onto.

Through donor-supported assistance from KidzCan, Alia gained access to essential medicines, diagnostic scans, and ongoing treatment support. Although she lost her hair and experienced significant weight loss during treatment, she never lost her determination.

Her mother recalls:

"When we felt like we had nowhere else to turn, KidzCan came in like God-sent. They gave us hope when we had almost lost it. They stood with us through the hardest days, and because of that, my daughter is alive today."

Following surgery and months of treatment, Alia's life has been transformed. Today, at six years old, she is healthy, active, and enjoying the childhood every child deserves.

Her story is a powerful reminder that childhood cancer is treatable when children have access to timely diagnosis, quality treatment, and sustained support. Because of you, fear was replaced with hope, and a cancer diagnosis became a survivorship story.

Activities and Progress This Quarter

During this reporting period, GlobalGiving donor support enabled KidzCan to:

• Provide chemotherapy and essential medicines to children undergoing treatment.
• Support families through accommodation services at the Rainbow Children's Village halfway home.
• Provide nutritional support to strengthen children throughout treatment.
• Assist vulnerable families with transport support to reduce treatment interruptions.
• Deliver psychosocial support services to children and caregivers.
• Support survivors through follow-up monitoring and long-term care.
• Continue outreach and awareness initiatives aimed at improving early diagnosis of childhood cancer.

Programme Highlights

Strengthening Early Diagnosis

Early diagnosis remains one of the most important factors influencing childhood cancer survival.

During this quarter, KidzCan trained 179 health workers across three health centres in Nyanga District on the early warning signs of childhood cancer and referral pathways. By equipping frontline healthcare workers with knowledge and practical skills, we are helping more children receive timely diagnosis and treatment.

Bringing Warmth and Comfort During Treatment

As Zimbabwe entered the winter season, KidzCan conducted its annual Winter Handout Programme at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. Children receiving treatment were provided with blankets, beanies, ponchos, and other winter essentials to help keep them warm and comfortable during their cancer journey.

The handout was warmly received by children, caregivers, and hospital staff, serving as a reminder that families facing childhood cancer are not alone.

Impact Metrics

This quarter, support from GlobalGiving donors and partners contributed to:

• Children receiving treatment support and chemotherapy assistance.
• Families receiving accommodation and nutritional support.
• Children assisted with transport to access life-saving treatment.
• Childhood cancer survivors receiving follow-up care and monitoring.
• Children and caregivers accommodated at Rainbow Children's Village.
• 179 health workers trained in childhood cancer awareness and early diagnosis.

Each number represents lives touched, hope restored, and opportunities for survival created.

Challenges

While we celebrate many successes, significant challenges remain:

• Ongoing shortages and procurement delays of some chemotherapy medicines.
• Rising costs of medicines, transport, nutrition, diagnostics, and supportive care.
• Increasing demand for services as more children are diagnosed and referred for treatment.
• Long travel distances and financial hardship faced by many families seeking specialist care.

These challenges reinforce the importance of continued donor support.

Looking Ahead

In the coming months, KidzCan will continue to focus on:

• Ensuring uninterrupted access to life-saving chemotherapy medicines.
• Expanding support services for children and families undergoing treatment.
• Increasing awareness and early diagnosis efforts across Zimbabwe.
• Training more healthcare workers to recognize childhood cancer symptoms.
• Advocating for improved national access to childhood cancer treatment and care.

Our vision remains unchanged: every child diagnosed with cancer deserves access to treatment, care, and the opportunity to survive.

Thank You to Our GlobalGiving Donors

Your generosity is changing lives every day.

Alia's story is one example of the impact your support makes possible. Because of you, children facing cancer receive more than treatment—they receive hope, dignity, comfort, and the chance to build a future beyond cancer.

Thank you for standing with Zimbabwe's children and their families as we continue working toward a future where no child faces cancer alone.

With deepest gratitude,

Daniel McKenzie

Executive Director

KidzCan Children's Cancer Relief

Links:

• Annual report 2025
• Launch of Rainbow Children's Village