Through Extended Hands CONNECTED CHURCH Zimbabwe Orphans Through Extended Hands

LEARNING TO DREAM AGAIN

What did you (or do you) want to do when you grow up?

Violet is 18 years old. She lives in rural Zimbabwe with her mother, who is very sick. She loves school and had passed her exams with good results, but then her father died. Extra notes for the leader: Violet’s mother has HIV. Her father died of AIDS. Violet’s exams were Ordinary Level exams - equivalent to GCSE’s.

When her father died, Violet was very sad, she thought that all her dreams had died with him. Her mother could not work so they had no money, and Violet had to beg for food. Violet says ‘I was carrying a heavy burden in my life that I could not share with anyone else. My family situation was very stressful, and seeing my father die was devastating. All my dreams in life just died with him. Seeing my mother sick every day and us both without food is an experience I will not forget in my life.’

Violet explained her situation to her school teacher. Her teacher goes to a church that had been trained by ZOE to look after vulnerable children like Violet. ‘At school I lost most of my friends because of my situation, I had no one to talk until I opened up to my teacher. She introduced me to the church’ Violet’s school teacher happened to be a member of a church that ZOE had envisioned to care for vulnerable children in their area. Once they heard Violet’s story volunteers visited the family and were touched by what they heard and saw. They started helping Violet by taking care of her mother whilst she was at school. She was also given three goats and five chickens. The idea was she would be able to breed them and sell them on. She could then take care of her family from the proceeds of the sale of the animals. Incredibly, she now has seven goats and 21 chickens. She has also started a vegetable garden using the manure from her livestock.

They looked after her and her mother, and now Violet has learnt to dream again. Her dream is to go to University and become a lawyer! The church shared Violet’s story with ZOE, who then provided her with school fees and school uniforms. ZOE also paid for her advanced level exams - equivalent to A-levels - which she has passed. Her dream is to go to University to become a lawyer; ZOE is currently finding the funds for her fees. Top photo - Violet outside her house with her goat! Bottom photo - Violet’s field that she has been able to cultivate thanks to ZOE.

PRAYER Please pray for Violet’s mother, her health has improved but she is still unwell Pray that Violet would fulfill her dream of becoming a lawyer