Campaign Story

Daisy Dube Children’s home or Chirinda Orphanage is situated at Mt Selinda Mission Hospital under the ownership of the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe. It was founded in 1955 as a mission to care for orphaned and abandoned children. The building was restored in 1981 in memory of Woody Johnson of Cheney Washington, USA. On 18 July 1981 the orphanage was renamed in honor of Daisy Dube. 1n 1985 the children’s home was officially registered under the Ministry of Labour of Social Services by Minister Frederick Shava, hence it is under the supervision of the Department of Social Development. Another home extension which now serves as the girl residence was completed with funds from Dr Brown from Netherlands in 1998.

Currently the home has an enrolment of 13 children who have been placed by the Department of Social Development who come from various backgrounds and an additional of 4 young adults who are now at Magamba Vocational College in Mutare, but they still reside at the home during holidays although they have reached the statutory age of discharge. Some of the children are orphans, victims of neglect and abuse, while some were abandoned. Some of the children at the home are living with HIV. The home also offers a place of safety for children in need of care as defined by the Children’s Act on a temporary basis and these children are placed at the home by the Department of Social Development. All the children attend the nearest schools, which are Mt Selinda Primary School, Mt Selinda High School and Emerald Secondary School. The home is privileged to be in the hospital premises hence children’s healthcare needs are easily attended to on a timely manner. The home focuses on spiritual growth, educational support and Ubuntu. The safety and welfare of the children is of paramount importance at the institution. All the children at the home are active members of the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe (UCCZ) and this has helped in spiritual growth of the children. The home strives to mold an innovative and responsible adult in the community.

The home has a resident social worker who is there to offer psycho-social support to the children. The home is mannered by 3 caregivers who are all trained in child protection and safeguarding,
and their salaries are paid by the Ministry of Health and Child Care. There is also a grounds man who runs the home projects like poultry and gardening, he is also responsible for premises maintenance. The home is supported through donations from the UCCZ, Global Ministries Child Sponsorship Program, Higherlife Foundation and other well-wishers.