A Hanover church is asking for donations as it plans another trip to Zimbabwe.
Team Leader of the Hanover Hope Community Church’s compassionate aid project Mission Zimbabwe Barry Mutrie says as part of the 16th trip to the country, a small group of four will be heading out on May 22 and return June 7.
During the two week trip, the team will be set up at the Village of Hope and visit the rural children’s home, Vimbainesu Children’s Home which helps prepare children for school.
The Village of Hope is located just outside the country’s capital of Harare, which provides education, healthcare, food, and shelter to over 1,650 children.
“We are actually going to be going and doing some feeding programs out in the community. They have a number of outreach areas that are very challenging areas that they provide school children with food each day and so we will be out and participating in that. We are also going to be participating in doing some work in the classroom at the school. Two of us are retired teachers so we are going to be working with the teachers there. Some of our team members are going to be working and interacting with the house moms who are looking after the children,” says Mutrie.
He says one of the team members who plays volleyball will be hosting various sports clinics with the children. While none of the people heading to the country have medical backgrounds, Mutrie adds they would like to also help the nurses.
Mutrie says he is the only member from the Hanover church on this trip as the others are from across Ontario.
“We are from all over, but one of the things I think is really special about Mission Zimbabwe is how we have connected our church to the community and where we really embrace this idea of the community. Our local community is connected with and our partners with the people at the Village of Hope and Vimbainesu Children’s Home, and that has been our goal all these years,” says Mutrie.
He adds Mission Zimbabwe allows people to see how their donations to the church are being used to support people in need.
“We want them to understand that our community cares about them but also be able to come back to our community and say, ‘look, the things that you have done, the support that you provided is having an impact on the lives of these people,'” says Mutrie.
Those interested in donating to support Mission Zimbabwe can reach out to Mutrie at abmut01@gmail.com.