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By Joyce Mukucha
Members of the Zimbabwe Parents of the Handicapped Children Association (ZPHCA) have expressed their gratitude to MISEREOR, a donor that supports the weakest members of society: the poor, the sick, the hungry and the disadvantaged for giving them strength to substantially improve their lives.
MISERIOR has been ZPHCA’s strategic development partner since the early 1990s.
Various mothers of children with disabilities explained that MISEREOR assisted them in a plethora of ways which include helping them to ensure that human rights of their children are upheld as well as making sure that the way is paved for them as parents to live in dignity in their different communities.
In an interview with Spiked Online Media, one the beneficiaries, Lilian Makware of Glenview 7 said through the support she received from MISEREOR, her livelihood and that of her child who has a disability totally changed.
Makware explained that before MISEREOR came and positively impacted her life, she was just somebody who was helpless in the community as she struggled to put food on the table for the family.
“I don’t how to thank MISEREOR for what they are doing in my life. I was given a wheelchair and it is now easy for me to carry my child and go everywhere I want to go. MISEREOR also extended to me food hampers and other basic needs for more than thrice this year and I’m grateful because it has improved food security in the house. .
“In the community, people discriminate me because of my child who has disability. They call you names, stigmatize you but they can’t help with anything. Since I started receiving support from MISEREOR, I concentrated less on what people say about my child because I know that out there, there are people who have love and who can stand by you. I just want to say please MISEREOR keep on doing the good work and God will bless you more,” Makware said.
Another parent Mary Mutomba of Kambuzuma Section 2 said she used to be weak up until MISEREOR lessened her burden by giving her the capability and strength to become the engine of change and development in her own life.
“When I gave birth to my child in 2004, the situation was so difficult for me until I was told about this MISEREOR organisation and I joined and it really changed my life. MISEREOR taught me how to take care of my child in a good way such as to work for them through farming and doing projects. They support me with food hampers and I was also given a wheelchair. Now I do not encounter any challenge when I want to travel with my child. Through MISEREOR, I was also able to own a stand in Mabvuku. Now I feel that my burden is lessened and I’m happy and grateful.”
Chenai Manyarara of Mbare said because of MISEREOR, she was able to become a leader and an independent woman who stands for her rights and the rights of the child.
She said the donor through its programmes, educated her to know the importance of unity and how to handle problems.
“For me, MISEREOR educated us to unite as one people. During the first days of giving birth to my child, I thought it was only me in Mbare with a child with disabilities but because of MISEREOR, I then knew that the challenge was also affecting a mother in Budiriro, Glen Norah, Kuwadzana and many other locations and they gave support to stand for ourselves as mothers.
“As mothers, through MISEREOR, we benefited 200 square metre stands in Lafarge, Mabvuku. Though we are still building, it feels much better because with the condition of our children we need our own space we feel comfortable to take care of them. Through our contributions and ISOLS, we hope that we will building our stands and finish.
“I was also taught to be a leader to the extent that I became a secretary at our church where I execute my leadership roles without hiding my child and at the same time encouraging others who have children with disabilities to come out and seek help, learn and change their livelihoods. MISEREOR has done good to me and is still doing, my plea is that please continue to support us, we are grateful,” said Manyarara.
ZPHCA coordinator Theresa Makwara said Misserior has strategically supported her organisation through securing medical exmination for children with severe multiple Disabilities, supporting children with assistive device, ensuring access to health services, education, stimuation, respite survices, counseling and food and non food items amongst others.
“ZPHCA with MISERIOR support has managed to institute various children with disabilities through advocacy and lobbying of workshops and campaigns as well as staff capacity training over the years thereby growing the movement,” said Ms Makwara.
The development projects supported by MISEREOR are as diverse as the causes and faces of poverty. They all have one thing in common, though. They all focus on the whole human person. As well as satisfying basic needs such as food security, they also help ensure that human rights are upheld and the way is paved for the people concerned to live in dignity.
It strives to create a world in which all human beings are able to participate in shaping their communities, in which cultural diversity is recognised and promoted, and in which equality is a reality.
MISEREOR strengthens self-initiatives and is convinced that poor and disadvantaged people too possess the strength to substantially improve their lives. Many of them then discover for the first time that they have not been dealt an immutable fate for all time.