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As Allen and Janelle Avery were working in Zambia and Zimbabwe during the last two decades, they became increasingly disturbed by the growing number of orphan children left by the AIDS/HIV disease. They felt it was paramount that AOM respond in some way to this crisis. Because the vast majority of orphaned children remain within the extended family structure, a vision was placed in the Avery's hearts to focus on those children in their extended families who were not thriving there due to a lack of finances.
According to the 2006 UNAIDS report, Zambia and Zimbabwe are among those countries with the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world. In Zimbabwe, it is estimated that at least 20% of the adult population is infected with the HIV virus, and in the year 2004, there were 1,100,000 orphaned children ** (see below for the definition of "orphan"). This is out of a total population of 13 million. The life expectancy for men has now decreased to only 37 years, and for women to 34 years. But the 2006 UNAIDS report does not give only bad news. It is now known that Zimbabwe, and to a lesser degree Zambia, are among the very few countries where the rate of new infections has actually been falling in the last several years. This is thought to be partially due to behavioral changes within the population. ** (A child is considered orphaned if the financial provider in the family is deceased. If the mother is still living, many times she is chronically sick.)
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AOM’s “children at risk” ministry in Zambia is centered within the structure of the churches started by the AOM church planting ministry. In the Western Province of Zambia within AOM churches, over 160 “children at risk” receive care and support from AOM. School fees are paid, school uniforms and shoes are purchased and the families of these children are supported emotionally and spiritually within the churches. AOM’s Zambian missionary, Grace Mulyata, oversees this work, and all donations designated for orphans, and not earmarked for Zimbabwe sponsorships, are funneled into this ministry.
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Themba Le'Ntandane (Hope for the Orphan)
AOM’s orphan ministry arm in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe is Themba Le’Ntandane (Hope for the Orphan). The ministry of Themba is directed toward destitute children who have lost one of more of their parents. Themba helps 158 of these children and their caregivers by providing school fees and uniforms, securing medical care for both children and caregivers, and by providing spiritual and emotional nurture for the family.
Themba Le’Ntandane is supported by sponsorship programs, both within churches and through individuals. For information on sponsoring a child, please contact Janelle Avery by email: janelleavery@gmail.com.
Below you will find information on the country of Zimbabwe, her recent history, the current situation in 2007, and AOM’s response in helping distressed children and families caught in the web of problems that now plague Zimbabwe.
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The country of Zimbabwe is located in the heart of southern Africa. It is home to the magnificent Victoria Falls (one of the natural wonders of the world) and to national parks with vast herds of elephant and wild game. On its northern border with Zambia is the beautiful Zambezi River with its crocodile and hippo, flowing down to form Lake Kariba, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. It is a country of great contrasts and great potential.
The 13 million people of Zimbabwe consist primarily of the Shona and Ndebele people. The majority are rural subsistence farmers, though a great number have migrated to the cities to find employment and better living conditions. The majority speaks their traditional languages, but English as the national language is spoken widely in the cities and is the language of commerce and education at all levels. The major religions in the country are Christianity and indigenous religions (Animism). Bulawayo, located in the south-western part of the country, is the second largest city in Zimbabwe.
In the past, Zimbabwe has had a well-developed agricultural, mining and industrial sector and was considered the potential "bread basket" for surrounding countries. Before independence, the economic base was controlled by the white population, a community comprising only 3 to 4% of the total population.
ZIMBABWE'S RECENT HISTORY
After a number of years of guerrilla warfare, Zimbabwe began as an independent state in 1980 under the leadership of Robert Mugabe. During the first decade of independence, on the surface the country seemed to thrive with the black population rising and the economy growing. However by 1990, due to a number of factors, among them widespread corruption, political unrest began to grow and became full blown by the late 1990's. President Mugabe's response was the forced seizure of white farms and repression and harsh human rights abuse against the indigenous black population. Along with catastrophic economic problems, Zimbabwe is experiencing one of the worst pandemics of HIV/AIDS, with infection rates among the highest in the world.
ZIMBABWE IN 2007
Zimbabwe now finds itself drowning in a sea of interrelated problems:
- International isolation of Robert Mugabe and his ruling party, ZANU PF.
- Economic, political and social collapse within the country ("meltdown").
- Hyper-inflation (over 2000% per year, the highest in the world), drought and widespread hunger, unemployment at over 70%.
- 83% of the population living on less than US$2 per day.
- Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans migrating out of the country, including doctors and nurses.
- Life expectancy at birth: Men - 37 years Women - 34 years
- Approximately 25% of the adult population infected with HIV/AIDS
- The highest number of orphans per capita in the world.
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In obedience to God's command to help widows and orphans (James 1:27), African Outreach Ministries greatly desires to reach out and care for the children of Zimbabwe caught in this web of problems.
AOM's target group:
- Destitute children who have lost one or more of their parents.
- Children who still reside with mothers or extended family members in their family homes (this group constitutes 99% of the orphaned children in Zimbabwe).
- Children whose caregivers find it impossible to care for and nurture their children without outside help.
--- 80% of the caregivers of our children are themselves sick, many terminally ill. ---
AOM assists these children by:
- Paying the necessary school fees and buying the uniform required by each school.
- Securing medical care for both children and sick caregivers.
- Providing food stuffs as opportunities arise.
- Providing spiritual and emotional nurture for both children and caregivers by:
- Regular visits into the homes of each child.
- A Friday Bible Club for all children assisted by the ministry.
- Prayer meetings and support groups for caregivers for their encouragement.
- Camps designed to nurture the children and caregivers in the spiritual walk and for their emotional support.
- Regularly calling the children and caregivers to accept Jesus Christ into their lives and to continue to grow and mature in him.
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African Outreach Ministries
African Outreach Ministries is a church planting and leadership training ministry. The field missionaries are Allen and Janelle Avery and Scott and Lisa Harris, overseen by a board of directors located in Houston, Texas. AOM is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Themba Le'Ntandane
Themba Le'Ntandane (Hope for the Orphan) is AOM's orphan ministry program in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The field director, Cornelious Moyo, oversees the daily administration of the program.
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