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Email: [email protected] Phone: +263 0783 171 824
www.facebook.com/themichaelproject/
New s le t te r
Chr is tma s Issue 2018
Adoption the act of willingly &
legally taking a child to care for
them as your own:
Fear is at the root of all of your indecision. Fear that you’ll make a mistake, that you’ll fail, that you’ll embarrass yourself, that you’ll make a commitment you can’t keep, that somebody will laugh at you or reject you. It’s always fear that keeps you indecisive. We don’t like to admit that we’re afraid, so we make excuses. Moses said, “I can’t talk.” Gideon said, “I’m too young.” Abraham said, “I’m too old.” We tell ourselves “I don’t have the time. I don’t have the money. I don’t have the experience. I don’t have the education. I don’t have the resources. If only I were married. If only I were unmarried. If only I were older or younger, in another country, in another year.”
(Face your fears so you can get something done — By Rick Warren, 03.12.2018)
I experienced all these fears, and more, before we adopted our daughter in 2014. I kept asking myself “What if we fail to bond or love each other as a parent and child should, what then?” Will we be enough for a little girl or boy who has suffered the loss of their
biological family? What if the damage they suffered can’t be repaired? How will we handle disclosing their origins to him or her, will we be strong enough, will they?
While we are immobilised by indecision yet another child lies abandoned, cold and alone on Zimbabwe’s streets, another healthy baby spends one of countless nights in hospital, the only bed that the government can find until a vacancy opens up in one of the few children’s homes, or from the handful of registered
foster families within the state; yet another turns 18 and is released from the children’s home they have known all their lives to an unforgiving adult world, to sink or swim devoid of the safety net of family that so many teenagers take for granted. Zimbabwe simply needs more foster and adoptive families.
Let’s change the narrative. As the people of God lets move forward with boldness , being
Zimbabwe granted 30 adoption orders between 2015-2017
494 children are in foster care country wide
Only 84 registered foster families in Harare
An estimated 4 701 children live in the streets of Zimbabwe’s 4 major cities
Sources :
Zim Adoption Process Explained, The Herald, 27.02.2018.
Adoption, Two Women Narrate Their Journey, The Herald, 28.02.2018
National Stats Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
“ A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child “
thoroughly convinced that adoption is a God thing. It was always part of God’s plan to adopt us into His family so lets give as we have freely received.
In our case God turned fear on its head. Proving to us that Nothing, absolutely Nothing is too difficult for Him. He created a family where there was none, one that is characterised by so much joy, love and laughter. We are blessed.
Barbara Pfupajena
Barbara is married to Simba and they have two adopted children
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Email: [email protected] Phone: +263 0783 171 824
www.facebook.com/themichaelproject/
MYTH: I have to have money and or have a home with a lot of space in order to foster or adopt. REALITY: People from all walks of life can foster or adopt a child. Whether you are single or married, own or rent your home, have tons of money or not, have children already or don’t, you may be eligible. Adoptive and foster parents DO have to undergo screening by the Department for Social Welfare to determine whether they are able to provide a stable and loving home for children who have experienced trauma. MYTH: I cannot Adopt or Foster if I work full-time. REALITY: As is the case with biological children, adoptive or foster parents can work full-time jobs and use whatever childcare options available to them. MYTH: I have to have children and parenting experience. REALITY: Not at all. One just has to demonstrate that they are mature and responsible enough to care for another human being. The Michael Project helps by running parenting courses aimed at equipping parents with tools to help them connect with children who have been neglected or abused. MYTH: Children who have been abused or abandoned have experienced trauma that is beyond repair. REALITY: In as much as the brain is damaged by neglect or abuse, structure, support and
ADOPTION And FOSTER CARE Separating myth from fact
love can reverse that damage in an amazing way. By God’s grace foster and adoptive parents have the incredible privilege of positively impacting a child who has experienced trauma, teaching healthy coping skills and helping to grow a thriving individual. MYTH: It is extremely difficult to adopt or foster in Zimbabwe. REALITY: On the contrary. The application and vetting process is fairly straight forward for Zimbabwean citizens and residents who are: Married for more than two years Female, if single At least 25 years of age More than 21 years older than the child to be
fostered or adopted. * Exceptions to the above require Ministerial approval. MYTH: I have no control over which child is placed in my home. REALITY: When you visit the Department of Social Welfare for the 1st time you will be asked the type of child you prefer to adopt or foster. This includes ethnicity, gender, age and health status among other things. In addition the department always seeks your full consent before placing any child with you .
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Email: [email protected] Phone: +263 0783 171 824
www.facebook.com/themichaelproject/
This year marks our 20th wedding anniversary and we are so thankful that God has blessed us with a wonderful family that is very unique.
We have two strong and handsome biological boys and are fostering five beautiful girls to be adopted into our family forever. The Lord led us to this kind of family through meeting our girls in different ways, all five of them coming from very different backgrounds to be neatly integrated into our family.
When we hear the big words Fostering or Adoption sometimes we wonder what is this? Is this possible? Who can do this? The reality is that God has blessed us all with compassion, care and love, which enables us to act on behalf of the vulnerable. There are no exceptions we can all play a part.
Children are all the same, biological or adopted and our bible applies to all situations. Yes there can be challenges because of backgrounds but l am waiting for that day when we will overlook the challenges and just consider the children, l firmly believe we have been all called to train up a child in the way they should go regardless of their background and the challenges they bring.
Some of the tides we have had to ride against have been our
The greatest joy in this is for us to fulfill our mandate from the Lord as far as children are concerned. Successes vary for people and the biggest success for all of us is when a child is put in a family. That l believe puts a smile on the face of God because that has always been his original intent– children in families and not in orphanages.
We have not come to this position in a perfectly fitted square. Our journey has been rough, tough, wearisome, sometimes frightening to say the least but it has all been a faith walk. Rising and falling and rising again, defying all odds in order to bring a child to the Lord.
“ When we hear the big words Fostering or Adoption sometimes we wonder what is this? Is this
possible? Who can do this?“
own traditional and cultural perspectives that we are not an adopting culture. That by taking a child outside of the extended family you are bringing foreign blood in the family. We have firmly stood on the teaching of scripture that we have been adopted in Christ and that there is no Jew and no Gentile we are all one in Christ. Since we are faith based the church in general has been supportive but from a distance as we have seen very minimal activity in setting up vulnerable children in families. I believe the church should take the leading role in this if we believe what we preach.
My encouragement to many couples out there would be if you do this for the Lord you will never look back in regret. There is so much that the Lord wants to accomplish for vulnerable children and you are the best person for the job. No one else. Will you let step up or shrink back.?
Shadreck
and
Millie’s Story
“ the biggest success for all of
us is when a child is put in a family.
That l believe puts a smile on the face
of God ”
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Email: [email protected] Phone: +263 0783 171 824
www.facebook.com/themichaelproject/
TALK RADIO
The Michael Project had amazing opportunities this year to speak Orphan Care nationwide through a local radio station, Capitalk. What a way to get the conversation started.
THE MICHAEL PROJECT AT WORK
ADVOCACY
PRE-SCHOOLS
Our pre-schools enable us to reach some of the most vulnerable children in our communities. Education, good nutrition and a solid spiritual foundation give these children a fighting chance and helps to break to cycle of poverty and vulnerability.
Through various workshops and other events we spread the message of Orphan Care, capacitate those already caring for orphans via parenting and trauma counselling courses and support those who embark on the adoption and foster care journey.
Simba, Nyasha and Rephat Rephat Nyarenda and Jeff Chifamba, Zim.
Without Orphans, with CapitalK host
Orphan Sunday 2018 @ ROL GP
Workshops
Orphan Sunday 2018 @ ROL Eastlea
Workshops
Our teachers graduating after
receiving Diplomas in Early
Childhood Development
School Trips Graduation ceremony at Chikurubi Prison Pre-school
