adminRumbidzai Marime
In a world filled with so many self centred problems and daily strains, it is difficult to imagine that someone can donate their time to the greater good of humanity.
‘Free’ is a term that is difficult to comprehend in a society where nearly every good thing comes at a cost yet this is what few and rare individuals have managed to contribute — their time and efforts for free!
Simukai Child Protection Programme, an organisation established in 2000, working with orphans and vulnerable children has been privileged to host a group of young and feisty international as well as local volunteers.
These volunteers who were seconded to Simukai by an organisation called Progressio some coming from as far as Ireland and England, have taken the time to work with vulnerable populations in Mutare in various ways that uplift their well being.
They cook, clean, play, teach but most importantly really listen to the problems of vulnerable children and find ways to engage them in activities that improve their well being.
When walking the streets of Mutare, one tends to want to hold their handbag more firmly when approaching a child living and working on the streets, usually identified in dirty garbs looking rather unkempt, some emitting a bad stench of dirt and urine.
The most common thought reflected in many a passerby’s eyes is that street children are juvenile delinquents with criminal characteristics that are not to be entertained. Yet these volunteers have shared many happy moments with street children, getting to know them, befriending them and eventually at times finding the root to the problems of these children that result in them living on the streets.
The volunteers have joined Simukai officers on day and night street visits, going into all the dark and dirty alleys where street children huddle together to fight the weather elements and shared information with them of the dangers of bad hygiene, HIV and AIDS as well as the negatives of premature sexual activities.
As a result some children have successfully been reunified with their families or relocated to good homes where they can access their rights, such as education, health care etc with hopes of becoming beneficial and responsible members of society one day.
We often value our time, even quantifying it in order to cost it as it is a precious commodity thought to be worth a reward of some sort.
Yet our society is full of so many vulnerable groups in need of just a moment, a smile, a touch and basically a show of caring and understanding.
Volunteerism is not a common act nowadays in our culture and is at times in developmental forums described as a foreign occupation which is still new to Africans.
However looking back into our history as Zimbabweans, the spirit of volunteerism has always prevailed though it was seen as an unwavering obligation and often went unacknowledged. Often children would be left in the care of communal guardians for care.
Even nowadays, often when unfortunate circumstances such as death occur, some will volunteer their assistance in varying ways from labour to financial and material support. Such acts give hope to the developmental world of people’s capabilities in lending a free hand to marginalised groups.
Volunteering can be a fulfilling hobby if one sets their mind to it. It is simply a matter of taking a couple of hours out of one’s schedule to lend a hand, lend an ear and simply show care to those who need it the most.
It may seem like a small and to others pointless task yet the impact of such an act of kindness goes a long way in moulding a better future and a better society.
For feedback or comments please visit our facebook page: Simukai Child Protection Programme or email: [email protected]
Online Reporter