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Currently, Hands of Hope operates three
residences in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.
Once bustling and prosperous, the city is
now has a soaring 75% unemployment rate.
Our homes currently house more than forty
girls and include a matron and one or two
other caregivers. Many of the girls come
from abused backgrounds and most have been
orphaned by the AIDS pandemic.
It is not uncommon to see vibrant floral
bouquets for sale in the city's downtown
park. A closer look at the arrangements
shows they aren't for tabletops or gifts
on dates. They're for funerals.
Westgate / view
photo slideshow
Westgate is nestled in the hills that surround
Harare. What's left of the wealthy reside
in this section of town. We purchased this
beautiful home (complete with an in-ground
swimming pool) for only 50,000 USD just
a few years ago and filled it with girls
who lost their parents and other close family
members to AIDS. They had nowhere else to
go.
Since it is part of the Hands of Hope family
of homes, its facilities are open to all
the girls we serve. Weekend trips from our
inner city homes to Westgate serve to encourage
all girls and build an extended family that
reaches across the economic divide.
Life and Liberty / view photo slideshow
Tucked away down the lane called "Fern Road,"
Life and Libertyis home to 12 girls ranging in
age from 7 to 14. Some of the girls came
to us from off the streets, and were far
behind in their studies, undernourished
and desperately seeking care and attention.
Today, those girls are at or close to grade
level and progressing well in their diet.
In addition to studies, girls also learn
some basic animal husbandry skills. On Sundays,
you can see these girls skipping and singing
down Fern Road on their way to church.
Hillside House of Hope
/ view
photo slideshow
Hillside House of Hope is located in an
urban section of Harare that, not too long
ago, was home to many of the city's business
crowd. The previous owners of the home fled
Zimbabwe when the economy turned sour and
animosity toward whites began to peak. It
now houses more than a dozen girls from
the street.
By far our toughest home, these girls have
seen more than just death. Many have been
sexually abused and others physically abused.
You wouldn't know it however, by the warm
greeting these girls give when visited by
Hands of Hope.
From the ashes of despair, these girls have
proven resilient, forgiving and full of
hope.
Danai / view photo slideshow
The Danai home is located in Hatfield, very
close to the international airport. It sits
on four acres of land with ten boys and
girls ages infant to nine years old.
Highfield House of Hope / view photo slideshow
Run by the dynamic Pastor Matatu of the
fastest growing Nazerene church in Africa,
this home houses 10 - 12 boys in the
high-density area of Harare.
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