Children’s home turns to farming for sustainability

KHAYELIHLE Children’s Village on the outskirts of Bulawayo has embraced an integrated farming model to help feed vulnerable children and sustain operations.

The children’s village, which takes care of orphaned and abused children aged from a few months old to 18 years, is now running crop, poultry and livestock projects aimed at reducing food costs while generating income through surplus produce sales.

Founded in 1992 in a modest house in Matsheumhlope suburb with just three boys; one orphan and two street children, the centre later acquired land in Umguza District and has since expanded into a fully-fledged care institution offering family-style homes, education support and skills training opportunities.

On Thursday, a delegation from the Australian Embassy in Zimbabwe, one of the centre’s principal donors, toured the facility to appreciate its operations and developmental projects.

Today, the institution boasts thriving tomato fields, onion and cabbage gardens, dairy and beef cattle projects as well as an expanding poultry enterprise.

KCV director, Mrs Bongiwe Ndlovu said the centre had deliberately adopted smart agricultural practices to maximise productivity on its five-hectare property.

“As of the end of the week, we will be producing 150 eggs a day from our newly established egg production project and we are looking at increasing the number of eggs to 200 per day,” she said.

“Some of the materials that we used to construct the fowl runs are from discarded wood from old wardrobes that we replaced, as the idea is to maximise on every available material at our disposal to cut costs whenever we can.”

Mrs Ndlovu said the produce is primarily used to feed children at the centre, with excess sold at local markets to generate income for operations.

“We are currently harvesting an average of 20 crates of tomatoes for the local markets while we also have dairy and beef cattle that we keep here. In terms of labour, we have full-time workers and occasionally outsource labour from the local communities during planting and harvesting seasons,” she said.

“We sit on a five-hectare piece of land, so our wish is to expand our agricultural projects by increasing the number of dairy and beef cattle as well as establishing more water sources such as drilling more boreholes for irrigation during the dry seasons.”

Apart from food production, the centre continues to provide education and skills development opportunities for children under its care.

One of the beneficiaries, 17-year-old Chengetai Xaba, is currently studying art and craft at Mzilikazi Arts and Culture Centre after growing up at the home since infancy.

“I will finish my course in 2028 after I was brought here by social workers when I was just a baby. This is the only home that I know and one day I would want to give back to KCV for taking care of me for all these years,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of Australian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Minoli Perera, embassy research officer, Mr Faraimunashe Nkomo, commended the institution for its impact on children’s welfare.

“From our portfolio of projects in Zimbabwe as well as Zambia, Malawi and the DRC, KCV is the only one that has its sole focus on children’s welfare and development and I can safely say that the Australian Embassy will continue to support the centre for all the wonderful work that is being done here,” he said.

KCV board chairman Lovemore Soko expressed gratitude to the embassy and other well-wishers for their continued support.

“This home is more than just a shelter; it is a family where children are nurtured, educated, loved and given an opportunity to dream again. Many of these children have faced difficult circumstances, but through support from caring people and organisations, they continue to grow with hope for a brighter future,” he said.