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Binga
Community
Binga lies on the shore of Lake Kariba
in the hot, dry Zambezi Valley in North Western Zimbabwe. Like much of Zimbabwe,
this area has been severely affected by HIV/AIDS and famine, and as a result
of Greystone Park Christian Fellowship's training seminars with pastors from
Binga, we have become aware of the dire situation of many children in Simatelele
and Nsenga, both in the Binga district.
Many in these communities struggle to grow crops or earn a living. The children are the hardest hit, with a large number of them dropping out of school at age 12, and turning to prostitution in order to survive. Working with the local churches, The Michael Project is addressing the needs of these children by visiting and caring for them. We are encouraging a community-based response by training local volunteers in orphan care, HIV/AIDS awareness & prevention, as well as promoting self help projects. Through fun days and activity clubs, these children learn to make crafts, play games and just enjoy themselves.
Just imagine you are seven years old - both your parents have passed away, so you are living with your grandmother. Because she is too old to look after you and your two younger siblings, you have to look after all of them. Your grandmother dies when you are 14, so you go and live with an aunt. You have never been to school nor do you have any skills to provide an income, so your aunt sells you into prostitution. You are now 15 and have an 8-month-old-baby whom you now also need to provide for. You want to get out of this vicious cycle but you cannot.
The Michael Project now provides food and clothing for Netsai and her baby, and she is learning to read as well as to sew. She now has a chance to start again.
