Home of Hope, an orphanage for homeless children, is located at the historical United Methodist mission site of Nyadire, where there is a primary school, hospital, and teacher's college. Approximately five hours by car from Harare, Zimbabwe, the orphanage is small in size and attempts to recreate a home setting that children might have under normal circumstances. A modernized facility with three large bedrooms, a living room, dining area, kitchen, and bathrooms, Home of Hope can comfortably house up to 20 children. With a limited number of young residents currently in place, there are house parents (a married couple), a grounds-keeper, and a representative of the Swedish United Methodist Church who is overseeing the completion of renovations on the orphanage.

Responsibility of operations is lodged with the office of the local district superintendent, the Reverend Marenge. Sharing his vision for the future of Home of Hope, Rev. Marenge said that it is his dream to see a program established at the orphanage which would center around groups of orphaned siblings being housed in the facility. He explained that there were many groups of orphaned siblings in which the oldest child attempts to act as a parent toward the younger children. Rev. Marenge said he hopes to see the orphanage become a place where this burden can be lifted from the shoulders of the young. "There are children barely in their teens carrying such a heavy responsibility," he said. "I want them to come to Home of Hope and find relief and guidance at this place." He said that the program will be a way to enable children already suffering the loss of their parents to remain with their sisters and brothers.

Plans are under way to provide special training and skills for the house parents. Persons wishing to contribute to the future of orphans in Africa may designate their gifts to the Bishops' Appeal: Hope for the Children of Africa or Children's Ministries (UMCOR) #101225-3.

December 19, 1998