Youth charity donates to Thembiso Children’s Home

A youth-led Christian charity organisation, Trust for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Outreach (Trovoco), in partnership with the global volunteer movement Good Deeds Day, has donated a range of essential items, including foodstuffs, toiletries, stationery, lunchboxes and clothing, to Thembiso Children’s Home in Bulawayo.

Established in 1976 by the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, Thembiso serves as a refuge for orphans and children in precarious circumstances, including those whose parents are mentally challenged. With limited resources and increasing demands, the home relies heavily on donations to sustain its operations and meet the children’s basic and educational needs.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Thembiso superintendent Mr Bhekimpilo Dube expressed deep gratitude for the support, noting that the donation came at a critical time as back-to-school expenses strained the home’s limited budget.

“We are thankful for your kindness and generosity, which has made a substantial difference. The support has allowed us to provide educational resources and help children access quality education. As schools are set to reopen, we urgently need donations to cover school-related expenses such as uniforms, textbooks and transport costs,” he said.

Mr Dube also appealed to donors and well-wishers to assist in upgrading Thembiso’s irrigation systems and introducing vocational training programmes to empower older children with practical life skills.

“We have ongoing needs, including upgrading our irrigation system and expanding educational programmes to include vocational training,” he said.

Thembiso Children’s Home is one of the oldest institutions of its kind in Bulawayo and houses dozens of children ranging from toddlers to teenagers. The institution relies heavily on community goodwill and donations to feed, clothe, educate and offer psychosocial support to the children under its care.

Trovoco co-ordinator, Ms Nkosinomusa Sibanda said their decision to return to Thembiso was inspired by the warmth of the children.

“The last time I came here to visit, I was touched. I thought it was a good idea to visit again and see how the children are keeping up. Although some of the faces are no longer here, we are grateful to be back and to be welcomed,” she said.

Good Deeds Day Zimbabwe country co-ordinator and Save Our Environment Trust executive director, Mr Oswald Chishanga, said their contribution was guided by a desire to restore dignity and hope to children, who have experienced trauma, rejection and emotional pain.

“We want to provide a safe and nurturing environment, offering hope and contributing to their ability to realise their dreams.

“We gifted them essential items such as lunchboxes, clothes, food and stationery, recognising these as fundamental needs for every child. Through this event, we sought to extend a helping hand, offer hope and provide support to these vulnerable children,” he said.

Good Deeds Day is a global movement founded in 2007 in Israel by businesswoman and philanthropist, Shari Arison. The initiative now spans more than 115 countries and brings together millions of people annually to volunteer for community-based projects. In Zimbabwe, the initiative was officially launched in 2018 by then Gweru Mayor Josiah Makombe and has since grown into a national volunteer network working with NGOs, corporates, councils, universities and individuals.