Children

Khayelihle Children’s Village (KCV) has over eighty children living in four houses. The children vary in age from infants to early twenties. They are cared for by housemothers and baby-minders who clean, cook, and watch over the children.

The children between three and five years old attend a preschool on the KCV farm. The primary children attend the nearest school on the way to Bulawayo. The secondary students attend secondary schools in Bulawayo. The boys go to Milton High School and the girls attend Eveline High School. One girl is in University. However, the economic condition in the country is so bad that most teachers cannot afford the transport to work and very little education has taken place this year.

When not in school, the children play, wash their clothes, do household chores, work in the garden, and attend church activities such as youth meetings and camps.

Emmanuel Bakamile’s mother is believed to have thrown four year-old Emmanuel from a moving vehicle because he was found with multiple injuries. He was then admitted to Zvishavane, Zimbabwe’s, District Hospital. Investigations revealed that Emmanuel’s mother wanted to get rid of him when she felt that he was a barrier to her new marriage. Emmanuel was denied a right to belong to a family, and so he was then placed at Khayelihle Children’s Village by the Social Welfare Department. At KCV, Emmanuel relates well with others and is friendly and cheerful. If you would like to sponsor Emmanuel for US$30 each month, please e-mail KCV at kcv@ecoweb.co.zw

Ten month-old Ngonidzaishe Princess Mazvihwa was found abandoned in Zvishavane, Zimbabwe. A report was made to the police and investigations pertaining to the whereabouts of the child’s mother proved futile. Ngonidzaishe was taken to Zvishavane District Hospital for a medical examination and safekeeping. After realizing that she needed a family for her developmental needs, she was then placed at Khayelihle Children’s Village by the Social Welfare Department. Ngonidzaishe is a cheerful and healthy baby who has adapted well to the KCV environment. She was placed in the 2nd Australian House.