BY THEMBINKOSI NYATHI
INTEGRATED media organisation, Jester Media Services (JMS) group, owners of independent commercial television station, 3Ktv, the Daily News and the Daily News On Sunday and leading business weekly, The Financial Gazette, on Friday donated clothes and other accessories to Harare Children’s Home.
This comes after fire broke out at the home and burnt blankets, clothes, food and other basic commodities in the last quarter of last year.
This prompted the institution to appeal for help. Speaking to the Daily News On Sunday yesterday, the acting director of Harare Children’s Home, Tsitsidzashe Chikumbo, said they appreciated JMS for giving a helping hand during trying times.
“We want to thank you for coming to see us, visit us as well as your generosity that motivates us. I feel very motivated by the donation that you have brought and that makes us very proud, as we depend on good Samaritans like you,” she said.
Chikumbo added that the home was making some renovations after the fire break-out last year. “Now we are back to the hostels by the help of the well-wishers and the children are now safe despite the need of shower curtains, brooms and toilet brushes.
“We do have small income generating projects which include poultry, gardening, rabbits and fish farming for training our boys and girls for the life ahead as we let them go at 18 or 19 years unless they are in university. “It is the aid of the well-wishers that makes them get jobs and also get their school fees paid as we are there to offer them shelter and protection only.
“We have very supportive staff who take care of the children as we look after a day-old baby up to 18 years,” she added. Harare Children’s Home was established in 1918 and is the country’s oldest orphanage home which currently takes care of 83 children. Its goal is to provide a safe place for the children, looking after their needs and helping them grow into adults.