Church empowers vulnerable members

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Reporter

CHURCHES in Bulawayo have rolled out empowerment projects to support vulnerable women and orphans in the city.

Council of Churches in Zimbabwe (CCA), an umbrella body for several indigenous churches, noted challenges experienced by some of their congregants and decided to come up projects to support them.

CCA fellowship National chairperson Prophetess Theresia Chigutsa and other members feed chicks before being distributed to the vullnerable

Widows have been provided with chickens to kick start poultry projects. The initiative, which started in April is targeting hundreds of women who are being given between 50 and 100 chicks to kick start self-sustaining projects.

A Chronicle news crew on Monday observed pastors receiving chickens on behalf of their disadvantaged members.

**Council of Churches in Africa president Bishop Dr Rocky Moyo**

The handover was done in Killarney suburb where the chickens will be kept for a month before distribution to the beneficiaries. Women are given sasso and broiler chicks as part of the self-help projects.

CCA women president, Prophetess Dr Faith Blessing Moyo said they identified women who are financially struggling in the church and provided them with chickens.

Dr Moyo said their aim is to expand the initiative beyond the church.

“We realised that we cannot only look up to the Government for help without also helping each other. We decided to join hands and help our communities and society, looking at women, some of the widows who are underprivileged,” she said.

“So, we decided to find various ways to assist them including this poultry project. We are also assisting the girl child by providing them with sanitary wear.”

CCA Women’s fellowship National Chairlady Prophetess Theresia Chigutsa

Dr Moyo said since launching the poultry project, some widows have started realising between US$200 and US$300 a month to sustain their families.

She said despite having started the project as a church, their plan is to cascade to other women who are not their members.

CCA chairperson Prophetess Terresia Chikodza said assisting the vulnerable is in line with what has been prescribed in the Bible.

“Widows and orphans in churches are suffering. They are coming to church yet they don’t have food on the table. Churches can give them food, but it is very good for the church to also empower them,” she said.

CCA Women’s fellowship National Chairlady Prophetess Theresia Chigutsa (left) and Secretary Apostle Precious Takaedza count chicks to be distributed to the vulnerable.

Prophetess Chikodza said beneficiaries undergo training to acquire skills before they receive the chicks.

“We covered a number of our churches and we encourage the beneficiaries to continue with the project after selling this batch so that they are able to sustain themselves,” she said.

CCA Women’s fellowship (from right) National Chairlady Prophetess Theresia Chigutsa, Secretary Apostle Precious Takaedza and Vice Chairperson Catherine Moyo show some of the chicks being distributed to the vulnerable.

Prophetess Chikodza said the church has a duty to look after the windows and orphans.

CCA women’s secretary Apostle Precious Takaedza said there has been a lot of transformation among the vulnerable since the church started the project.

“Since we started in April some of the chicks have started to generate money for the beneficiaries. There is relief and we can say as a ministry there is a breakthrough. We want to see this project going to the rural areas and uplifting rural women,” she said.–@nqotshili