The Jairos Jiri Association for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Children is a national organization in Zimbabwe now more than 45 years in existence. Founded by the late Jairos Jiri, the organization has the unique history of having begun out of the compassion and charity of a single individual who began sharing his own dwelling with street beggars. Today there are numerous branches attached to the Jairos Jiri Association, including training centers for disabled adults; a senior center's home for disabled persons; craft shops which sell goods produced by the disabled; and a center for children with cerebral palsy. It is with the latter center, located in the Waterfalls section of Harare, that local United Methodists have established a special relationship. Some financial support has come through The United Methodist Church under the guidance of episcopal leader Bishop Jokomo.

The Waterfalls Rehabilitation Center houses 45 children and is under the direction of a local United Methodist woman, Mrs. G. Chirimumimba. Mrs. Chirimumimba says that in addition to the 45 disabled children, 50 well-bodied children attend preschool at the center as part of the organization's effort to integrate disabled children into the general population.

Funds from the church have assisted with workshops for parents to educate them against misinformation and superstition attached to association with the disabled, Mrs. Chirimumimba reported. She added that such education is an ongoing process because these false beliefs are deep-seated in the culture. "The church plays an important role in endorsing our work," she said. "It builds trust in the community. When I first took the job at Jairos, there were women who cautioned that accepting a position here could cause me to give birth to unhealthy children. Now that they see this is not true and are witnessing the good that the center is doing for young children and their parents, our task grows easier."

The program is full service and provides physical therapy, medical services, education, and activities. There are cooks, house cleaners, and maintenance persons who cultivate crops to sell for additional income. One staff member, a young adult woman who came to the center as an infant, today serves as the receptionist. The center's bookkeeper is a young man who grew up at Waterfalls. He was abandoned as a baby and brought to Jairos Jiri by local authorities. Many of the children are referred through government officials; others are brought by their parents.

Currently, the center is in need of more housing space for the children. Among efforts to generate income is a small concession stand on the facility that they hope to expand. Parents are assessed fees, but the major support comes from the government and charitable contributions of churches and other faith communities.

The Church of Zimbabwe can continue to participate in giving aid to and bringing new awareness about children with disabilities through your gifts to Development of Christian Education Material, Advance Project #012813-6RA.

December 19, 1998