Gweru orphans, widows get lifeline

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THE Gweru-based Hopeful Life for Widows and Orphans in Africa Trust has embarked on educational activities and income generating projects to breathe a lifeline to orphans and widows respectively, an official of the trust has said.

THE Gweru-based Hopeful Life for Widows and Orphans in Africa Trust has embarked on educational activities and income generating projects to breathe a lifeline to orphans and widows respectively, an official of the trust has said.

Stephen Chadenga OWN CORRESPONDENT

The trust’s director, Alice Shiri, told the Southern Eye on the sidelines of a Christmas party for orphans in Gweru on Thursday that orphaned children would have their pre-school fees catered for up to Grade One level.

“We have helped more than 60 orphans and will continue to help disadvantaged children by providing them with food, clothing, sport as well as entertainment through the Hopeful Life Pre-school and Children’s Centre,” she said.

“We have in the pipeline some projects for widows in a bid to economically empower them.”

Shiri said the trust had acquired space near Claybank in Windsor Park, where plans were at an advanced stage to build the Hopeful Life centre.

She said a borehole would be drilled at the centre next year to ensure uninterrupted availability of water.

Hopeful Life has two branches in Gweru and Shurugwi, but the trust’s boss said plans were underway to open another one in Victoria Falls.

Shiri said they were also working on ways to assist widows in neighbouring countries at borders.

“We have many widows who are cross-border (traders), but find challenges at the country’s boundaries as they go about with their business and we are looking into ways to support them,” she said.