Izere Mubyeyi was founded in 2004 in Kigali by 23 parents and friends of children with intellectual and learning disabilities, to create opportunities for their children. Today, Izere Mubyeyi provides access to quality education and healthcare, including running an early childhood centre for children aged three to six. They also provide parents and caregivers with psychosocial support and offer economic empowerment, skills training, and disability rights advocacy.

The organisation was established in 1952 under government specifically as a correctional institution to accommodate juvenile delinquents of 12 – 18 years, having the capacity to carry 60 boys’ offenders. It was founded after Percy Ibbotson Probation Hostels for boys in Bulawayo. The setup of the institution was a prison like structure with a line security fence enclosed with highly placed burglar barred windows, with the staff mainly made up of ex prison and police officers. Security was tight and conditions were aligned to ensure rehabilitation of these young offenders. Its name by then was Highfield Probation Hostel.

In 1997 with the upsurge of orphans sprawling the urban streets, the government changed two out of ten institutions under its wing to be orphanages to cater for children coming from extremely difficult circumstances. The home was named Hupenyu Hutsva Children’s Home. Its
capacity can carry 132 children (committed and on places of safety) boys and girls aged 6 years to 17 years.

The orphanage provides refugee, care, protection, life skills, basic needs and education to orphans and vulnerable children. We run a dormitory set up for girls and boys, a primary school, poultry, gardening projects and herbal garden. The mentioned activities comprehend social training, inclusion for our disadvantaged children.

The home is registered with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare under section 31(3) of the Children’s Act (Chapter 5:06). The home is government funded. It caters for orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC). The Home runs a primary school which is registered under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. The school provides its services to all admitted children, those on place of safety and children from the surrounding community.

The team at Hope of Family bring a deep and personal understanding of their community’s needs and believes that a conducive home atmosphere is critical to the success of primary school-aged children.  Hope of family involves parents and caregivers living in the Muhanga district community, being involved in all aspects of their children’s education.

Additionally, they provide educational supplies, cover supplemental school fees, promote literacy throughout the community, offer entrepreneurial and agricultural training, work to improve housing conditions, and facilitate a local savings and loan program.

Homefield Centre Zimcare Trust is a non- profit-making organization registered under Private Voluntary Organization Act (chapter17.05) and has been in existence since 1964. It was established with the mandate of educating, caring, and creating enabling environment for adults (18 years and above) with Intellectual Challenges. This will equip them with self-help skills that will enable them to be re-integrated into the society our vision is informed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNRC) Article 23 and the African Charter (AC) Article 13.

The Centre has a total of 9 hostels which include an Old People’s Home for male and female residents. Homefield Centre caters for 106 residents but has a current enrolment of 69 residents 23 being female and 46 males, a staff of 32 including the Superintendent, the Deputy Superintendent, Bursar, Nurse and the support staff. The Centre has workshops where residents are trained within their capabilities; the training includes pottery, weaving, woodwork, garden, dairy, and poultry projects. We also have a stimulation class where residents do occupational therapy.

Home of Hope children’s home is a child welfare organisation which was founded in 2003. It has registration 10/72 and is a child-minding organisation that is running under the auspices of The United Methodist Church (UMC), Zimbabwe West Annual Conference. It is located 23km from Mutoko Centre, situated 143km from Harare. Most of the funds for the upkeep of the Home of Hope children’s home come from self-motivated individuals, such as well-wishers, church members on an interdenominational basis, and other donors, with the United Methodist Church (UMC) in Zimbabwe leading the way. Also, a very small grant is provided by the Government of Zimbabwe UNDER The Department of Social Development (DSD). Currently, Home of Hope children’s home has 27 children,14 girls and 13 boys. The Home is structured in a dormitory form but in the process of transforming into a family cluster setup.

Heather Chimhoga Orphan Care’s (HCOC) services ensure that children remain in school, and have access to nutritional support, health, and psychosocial services. HCOC runs a child-friendly clinic and school-based feeding program, offers scholarships to vulnerable children and provides psychosocial and livelihoods support in the rural district of Murehwa.