Zimbabwe: Mother of Peace Orphanage
Donation protected
Friends! Thank you so very much for stopping by. For those of you that don't know me, my name is Ellie Coburn. I am nineteen-years-old from San Diego, California currently serving in Zimbabwe, Africa at an orphanage called Mother of Peace.
I will be serving at Mother of Peace for nine weeks but it is only midway through my first week that I have assessed a grave need for outside help. Upon taking my position at the orphanage I had no real understanding of what third world Africa would be like. Moreover, I had no real understanding of how difficult it would be to spark change in a place without immediate resources or funds available.
I have spent my first few days on the grounds falling completely in love with the orphanage’s beautiful children and quietly observing the most pressing needs here at Mother of Peace.
So many of you have heard about my journey to this beautiful, broken place and asked me how you can help. Until today, I did not know. I have finally fully assessed the situation and now I see that funding will be the single most effective way to help me help Mother of Peace.
This is where I come to you, friends. This is where I raise up a voice for the 73 children who have not eaten a properly portioned meal in months and the 70 teachers, farmers, house mothers, educators, and community leaders that come to work day after day, even after two months without a single paycheck for their own families.
For those of you that know me and know my heart you know that I will utilize each donation to the fullest extent. You know that I am researching tirelessly and that I am pacing the grounds in collaboration with the farmers, notebook in hand, understanding how to make a profit on each and every cabbage and head of lettuce. You know that I will spend your money carefully on both necessary items and on productivity that will help cultivate the grounds so that ultimately Mother of Peace's farm will be able to create its own revenue. You know that I will make educated decisions that will help change the course of life for these 150+ orphans and workers. You know that you can trust that when I ask for your help - I truly need it. However, for those of you who do not know me or who want to know more about why I would so boldly ask for funds - I have created a detailed outline below.
Food
Feeding 73 children is no easy job and unfortunately the children's diet is the first to suffer when the monthly funds are insufficient. The children eat primarily traditional Zimbabwe meals including Rice and Sudza (cornmeal and water) paired with meat and vegetables, however, when the funds are low the children will often go without vegetables or meat. We want to create an environment where we can afford to feed the children a balanced diet all of the time.
Additionally, the children go to school from 8am until 3:20pm and without the funds for school snacks and drinks - the children are often without food during the entirety of the school hours. We want to create an environment where each child can take a snack (i.e. banana and nuts with fresh water) to school each day so that they are able to focus on their studies.
Clothing
The children have plenty of donated clothing that has been shipped from generous donors throughout the world. While many of you want to help by sending gently used clothing or shoes, I can assure you that we are in no short supply.
This same truth does not apply to the school uniforms. These sweet children wear these uniforms each school day without fail and they are falling apart. Buttons are falling off, stains and tears hide the logo, and dirt from the African dust that is everywhere seems to be interwoven into the fabric.
Mother of Peace has a tailor on location that custom makes all of the uniforms to match. All we need is enough funds to go to the capital city of Harare and purchase some fabric. Once we have purchased the fabric - students can start receiving fresh uniforms.
Furthermore, as winter in Africa comes into full swing we notice that we do not have enough socks or sweaters for the children. We can purchase these things in the capital city of Harare as well, but we must first receive the funds to do so.
Farming
Do you have the same question that I had? Why hasn't Mother of Peace been farming for longer? Why is me being here going to somehow help launch a farm that has not previously existed?
Let me clarify, for nearly a decade Mother of Peace has been searching for someone to manage the Mother of Peace farm and coincidentally the brilliant and incredible farm manager, Simba, has begun his work at Mother of Peace at almost the same time that I have arrived. Simba has a degree in agriculture and nearly ten years of experience farming all over Africa. This guy knows his stuff and now he is here and ready to launch this farm. Mother of Peace has chickens, pigs, rabbits, cows, and acres and acres of land to plant produce but like everything else; the farm is suffering because there is not enough money to fund it.
For example, there are dozens of chickens but without feed they are not producing eggs for the children, without feed for the cows, there is no milk for the children, without seeds for the garden, there is no produce to be sold for profit in the local marketplace - and so on.
I truly believe that Simba will be able to change Mother of Peace with the profits he makes in the farm, he's been here for 2 weeks and has already planted 20,000 cabbages and increased milk and egg supply by triple the amount. Now, we just need the funds for the startup process.
Worker Wages
As mentioned earlier, there are 70+ workers that make Mother of Peace function properly. There are ground workers and housekeepers and teachers and secretarial staff and housemothers and tailors. Keep in mind that Mother of Peace is also a site for neighboring children to come to school so we have 150+ children and acres of land to care for throughout the week.
Mother of Peace depends 100% on donations, which means that all of these people with their own families to feed will only take home a small paycheck if someone wants to make a donation to the orphanage.
I found out today that house mothers - individuals who clothe, feed, and wash 20+ children each morning make around $50 a month. These women have their own families that they leave for a week every other week in order to come and stay with the children at the orphanage. You may be as devastated as I was to discover that these dedicated, tireless women are going on their third month without a single paycheck.
If you want to help the children, helping fund those that help them is one of the greatest gifts you can give.
Extra Stuff
Birthdays go unnoticed here for lack of funding. So do stuffed animals and clean winter coats and toys. Eventually, we'd love to see Mother of Peace financially functioning to the point where we can supply the children with these types of simple pleasures.
*****
Please help me help Mother of Peace by donating any amount your heart feels appropriate. With your help, perhaps we can change the course of the lives for these precious children. Thank you in advanced for sharing anything you might be able to spare.
I will be serving at Mother of Peace for nine weeks but it is only midway through my first week that I have assessed a grave need for outside help. Upon taking my position at the orphanage I had no real understanding of what third world Africa would be like. Moreover, I had no real understanding of how difficult it would be to spark change in a place without immediate resources or funds available.
I have spent my first few days on the grounds falling completely in love with the orphanage’s beautiful children and quietly observing the most pressing needs here at Mother of Peace.
So many of you have heard about my journey to this beautiful, broken place and asked me how you can help. Until today, I did not know. I have finally fully assessed the situation and now I see that funding will be the single most effective way to help me help Mother of Peace.
This is where I come to you, friends. This is where I raise up a voice for the 73 children who have not eaten a properly portioned meal in months and the 70 teachers, farmers, house mothers, educators, and community leaders that come to work day after day, even after two months without a single paycheck for their own families.
For those of you that know me and know my heart you know that I will utilize each donation to the fullest extent. You know that I am researching tirelessly and that I am pacing the grounds in collaboration with the farmers, notebook in hand, understanding how to make a profit on each and every cabbage and head of lettuce. You know that I will spend your money carefully on both necessary items and on productivity that will help cultivate the grounds so that ultimately Mother of Peace's farm will be able to create its own revenue. You know that I will make educated decisions that will help change the course of life for these 150+ orphans and workers. You know that you can trust that when I ask for your help - I truly need it. However, for those of you who do not know me or who want to know more about why I would so boldly ask for funds - I have created a detailed outline below.
Food
Feeding 73 children is no easy job and unfortunately the children's diet is the first to suffer when the monthly funds are insufficient. The children eat primarily traditional Zimbabwe meals including Rice and Sudza (cornmeal and water) paired with meat and vegetables, however, when the funds are low the children will often go without vegetables or meat. We want to create an environment where we can afford to feed the children a balanced diet all of the time.
Additionally, the children go to school from 8am until 3:20pm and without the funds for school snacks and drinks - the children are often without food during the entirety of the school hours. We want to create an environment where each child can take a snack (i.e. banana and nuts with fresh water) to school each day so that they are able to focus on their studies.
Clothing
The children have plenty of donated clothing that has been shipped from generous donors throughout the world. While many of you want to help by sending gently used clothing or shoes, I can assure you that we are in no short supply.
This same truth does not apply to the school uniforms. These sweet children wear these uniforms each school day without fail and they are falling apart. Buttons are falling off, stains and tears hide the logo, and dirt from the African dust that is everywhere seems to be interwoven into the fabric.
Mother of Peace has a tailor on location that custom makes all of the uniforms to match. All we need is enough funds to go to the capital city of Harare and purchase some fabric. Once we have purchased the fabric - students can start receiving fresh uniforms.
Furthermore, as winter in Africa comes into full swing we notice that we do not have enough socks or sweaters for the children. We can purchase these things in the capital city of Harare as well, but we must first receive the funds to do so.
Farming
Do you have the same question that I had? Why hasn't Mother of Peace been farming for longer? Why is me being here going to somehow help launch a farm that has not previously existed?
Let me clarify, for nearly a decade Mother of Peace has been searching for someone to manage the Mother of Peace farm and coincidentally the brilliant and incredible farm manager, Simba, has begun his work at Mother of Peace at almost the same time that I have arrived. Simba has a degree in agriculture and nearly ten years of experience farming all over Africa. This guy knows his stuff and now he is here and ready to launch this farm. Mother of Peace has chickens, pigs, rabbits, cows, and acres and acres of land to plant produce but like everything else; the farm is suffering because there is not enough money to fund it.
For example, there are dozens of chickens but without feed they are not producing eggs for the children, without feed for the cows, there is no milk for the children, without seeds for the garden, there is no produce to be sold for profit in the local marketplace - and so on.
I truly believe that Simba will be able to change Mother of Peace with the profits he makes in the farm, he's been here for 2 weeks and has already planted 20,000 cabbages and increased milk and egg supply by triple the amount. Now, we just need the funds for the startup process.
Worker Wages
As mentioned earlier, there are 70+ workers that make Mother of Peace function properly. There are ground workers and housekeepers and teachers and secretarial staff and housemothers and tailors. Keep in mind that Mother of Peace is also a site for neighboring children to come to school so we have 150+ children and acres of land to care for throughout the week.
Mother of Peace depends 100% on donations, which means that all of these people with their own families to feed will only take home a small paycheck if someone wants to make a donation to the orphanage.
I found out today that house mothers - individuals who clothe, feed, and wash 20+ children each morning make around $50 a month. These women have their own families that they leave for a week every other week in order to come and stay with the children at the orphanage. You may be as devastated as I was to discover that these dedicated, tireless women are going on their third month without a single paycheck.
If you want to help the children, helping fund those that help them is one of the greatest gifts you can give.
Extra Stuff
Birthdays go unnoticed here for lack of funding. So do stuffed animals and clean winter coats and toys. Eventually, we'd love to see Mother of Peace financially functioning to the point where we can supply the children with these types of simple pleasures.
*****
Please help me help Mother of Peace by donating any amount your heart feels appropriate. With your help, perhaps we can change the course of the lives for these precious children. Thank you in advanced for sharing anything you might be able to spare.
Organizer and beneficiary
Ellie Coburn
Organizer
Coronado, CA
Mary Coburn
Beneficiary
