Children Helped
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OUR GOAL
support the most vulnerable
TIGO (Trust in God Orphan Care) was formed in September 2004 to assist caregivers, often elderly grandmothers in rural Zimbabwe, care for the children left in their care after the parents had died of HIV/Aids. In more recent years with the advent of Anti Retroviral drugs funded by USAID through the government, the incidence of HIV/Aids has been dramatically reduced although the number of orphans have remained and this is mainly due to abandoned babies who could not be cared for due to the economic situation in Zimbabwe.
- Identifies the children who need our help
- Pay school fees, stationary and uniform needs
- Provide enough food for the child and their family
- Cover any essential health care needs
about the cause
TIGO assists by raising money to pay for food, school fees, school uniforms and medical expenses as required. There are currently 142 children being cared for. These are identified by community workers as the neediest, although there are many more who should be helped.
Every child deserves the chance to eat, go to school, and feel safe and loved.
Children can’t attend school if they can’t buy the required stationary or uniforms as well as cover school fees. What little money these families have is often spent on sourcing enough food for everyone.
We help by covering the cost of any essential health needs.
Food provisions are delivered regularly to provide food for the whole family.
School fees, uniforms and stationary are paid for so there is no barrier to the child attending school.
We also provide mentoring and encouragement to the caregivers and children.
How We Are Helping
In 2024, following several years of severe drought, Kiwilink raised money for food relief. Even though we raised a significant NZ$34,000, the needs were great, and we had to identify the neediest of the needy, and this led us to grandmother-headed households. These were grandmothers who were left caring for several grandchildren. We then decided that rather than distribute food, we would distribute maize seeds so that the people could grow their own food and not rely on a handout. For grandmother-headed households, this meant that the children in her care would be the people planting and harvesting the maize, thereby learning life skills as they provide for their family.
$50 nzd per month
Your monthly donation covers the costs of the essential needs of a child living in rural Zimbabwe. Our hope is to equip each child with the skills they need to not only dream about a better future but to achieve it.
Like most countries in the world, Zimbabwe has experienced high inflation. Unfortunately, Zimbabwe has suffered from higher infation than most countries, which for TIGO means substantially increased costs. The hardest hit has been school fees, which have increased 212% in two years.
We are mindful that our TIGO donors in New Zealand and Australia have also been hit by inflation, meaning that we do not wish to ask them for an increase in their monthly payments. While we have taken pride in telling donors that each TIGO child in Zimbabwe has only one donor, we have decided to seek two donors for each child to meet the increased costs in Zimbabwe.
HOW WE HAVE HELPED
Terence Shumba said:
"I believe that such assistance is one of the best forms of empowerment that has positioned me to contribute not only to myself but to my community."
Children who need sponsorship today
Words from a previous TIGO child...
My mom passed on when I was just seven and at grade 2 level. I completed my primary education in the year 2003.
Out of the blue, as I started my secondary education, a heavenly sent team consisting of Pastor Nyoni, his wife and Brother Chris visited our homestead. They explained they were taking me as a beneficiary of Trust In God Orphanage (TIGO). They paid all my fees for the entire secondary education. Not only that but they went a step further in providing basic needs like food, clothing etc. I also would get gifts from New Zealand through them.
I was privileged that my schooling was paid for by TIGO and I finished my Ordinary level in the year 2007. My sponsors were happy since I had passed. However I failed mathematics and I had to supplement. I passed and in the year 2010 I got enrolled at Morgenster Teachers’ College for a Diploma in Education (Primary).
TIGO paid my fees and all the necessities that were needed. I completed in the year 2013 and now am fully employed as a teacher. Yes, education is a fundamental human right but the opportunity to be educated by lovely people like these is a privilege. I am thankful and grateful for the unfailing love. Really there is no such love.
My word of encouragement to those who get this privilege is: Treasure the opportunity as a bar of gold. Do your best. Go beyond limits. To Mrs Nyoni, the Trust In God Orphanage matron and the whole team, I would like to say thank you very much from the deepest part of my heart. You really demonstrated love and saved a soul.
May the dear Lord bless you as you bless others.
Jethro Shoniwa
