{"id":7674,"date":"2019-04-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-28T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svp.matrix-test.com\/article\/inspiration-from-svp-zimbabwe\/"},"modified":"2024-05-23T15:37:50","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T14:37:50","slug":"inspiration-from-svp-zimbabwe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.svp.ie\/news\/inspiration-from-svp-zimbabwe\/","title":{"rendered":"Inspiration from SVP Zimbabwe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cGiddy\u201d<\/em> is a combination of excitement and delight. That is my sense after seeing the marvellous work done by the SVP Zimbabwe National Council and Chinoyhi Conference, and Caritas Zimbabwe in renovating and restoring Nazareth Shelter over the last four years as part of the SVP Twinning programme.<\/p>\n

Nazareth Shelter in Chinoyhi, a bustling market town 90 minutes by road North West of Harare, Zimbabwe, is a home for destitute older people who have no one to care for them in old age. This is relatively unusual in Southern African culture as families always care for their older folk. However, every so often, an older person becomes orphaned from their family and, in a very poor society with no social protection, they fall on very hard times. Like Vincentians, SVP Zimbabwe and Caritas in the Diocese of Chinoyhi responded. Over the years the 40 bed Nazareth Shelter had fallen into disrepair and Diocese of Chinoyhi did not have the resources for renovation.<\/p>\n

The situation was brought to the attention of Mary Toole, St Oliver's SVP Conference Navan member and Twinning officer for the North East and Midlands (NE&M) Region, and Michael O\u2019Keefe, Regional chairperson and Kells Conference member. As part of the NE&M twinning programme response, and in conjunction with the SVP Zimbabwe National Council and the Chinoyhi SVP Conference, a plan was prepared, costed and implemented. The National Twinning Committee, Chaired by Rose McGowan, co-funded the project from the national twinning budget.<\/p>\n

Undertaking such a project in a developing country with a collapsing economy was a mammoth task. When I visited in January last Ms Tendai Kusembedzera, SVP Zimbabwe National President, and Mary-Carmel Mudiwa, Administration Officer, Caritas Zimbabwe-Diocese of Chinhoy, organised a dedication ceremony on January 19th of the renovated building. I was giddy with excitement when I saw:<\/p>\n