The findings from this year's United Methodist AIDS conferences in Zimbabwe were clear: The church must move from ideas to action--and fast. "We need to take it from a countrywide conference down to a local level outreach," says Betty Gittens, the General Board of Global Ministries' executive secretary for health and welfare.
One of the most successful programs already operating in Zimbabwe is the Uzumba Orphan Trust (Advance #982842-6). Unlike a traditional orphanage, children whose parents have died of AIDS are allowed to remain in their homes and assigned caregivers regularly visit them and attend to their needs.
The program started in 1995 with 15 volunteer caregivers; it now has 45 caregivers, caring for 1,500 orphans. Caregivers assess the needs of each family and offer emotional, educational, financial and material support.
Supported by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and the United Nations, the program's goal is to care for children and teach them to care for themselves by engaging the whole community.
A major component of the Orphan Trust involves farmland surrounding the area, known as "orphan's fields." Each community volunteer works a parcel of the land for produce to sell. The income from the commons funds the trust and pays for housing materials and school fees.
The caregivers also teach the children basic skills such as carpentry, knitting or pottery. In addition, UMCOR pays school tuition fees for 2,000 primary students and 2,000 secondary students.
"In Zimbabwe you have to pay to go to school," says the Rev. Paul Dirdak, UMCOR executive. "And secondary school tuition is 10 times that of primary school."
Just as UMCOR seeks to engage entire communities hit by AIDS to care for children left in its wake, Gittens hopes local congregations will support efforts to address the systemic concerns of Zimbabwe's orphans. "We hear from a lot of congregations wanting to support a family," Gittens says. "That's great, but it only focuses on one group. We're pushing for general support to encompass every family in need."
Photo: United Methodists at a conference on Zimbabwe's AIDS crisis, August 2000
Joey Butler is associate editor of Interpreter. Reprinted with permission from Interpreter magazine, November-December 2000, p. 28.
The Uzumba Orphan Trust: a New Approach to AIDS in Africa: A Special Report by New World Outlook magazine, March-April 2001.
A Generation of Hope, Ministry with AIDS Orphans in Zimbabwe (online video and other resources)
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Please support UMCOR Advance #982345, "Global AIDS Fund," Advance #982842 "AIDS Orphan Trust," or Advance #101218, "AIDS Awareness and Children Impacted by HIV/AIDS in Africa." UMCOR encourages you to give through your local United Methodist Church. Gifts may also be sent to: UMCOR, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115. To make a credit card donation, call 1-800-554-8583.
Disclaimer: Links are provided to enable visitors to go to other web sites. Not all will have materials consistent with the official policies and statements of UMCOR, the General Board of Global Ministries or The United Methodist Church. In like manner, UNAIDS resources are a valuable resource, but their content is not necessarily completely in agreement with the policies and statements of the General Board of Global Ministries or The United Methodist Church. Only General Conference speaks for The United Methodist Church.
