World Vision Hong Kong in Zimbabwe (2021)

World Vision Hong Kong in Zimbabwe (2021)

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While recording a decline in inflation and extreme poverty rates in 2021, poverty has long been a major issue in Zimbabwe, with nearly 40% of its population living in poverty. Besides the COVID-19 pandemic, the country is also frequently affected by climate shocks such as drought and cyclones, most notably Cyclone Idai in 2019.

World Vision has been operating in Zimbabwe since 1973, starting with providing assistance for children’s homes and Zimbabweans in camps. After Zimbabwe became independent in 1980, World Vision shifted its focus to rehabilitation and small-scale development as people in exile and previously displaced groups returned. Gradually, World Vision has transitioned to large-scale community development programmes designed to address community needs with a specific focus on children. Today, World Vision is the largest humanitarian organisation in Zimbabwe, reaching more than 2 million people every year through its relief and development projects across the country.

In 2021, World Vision Hong Kong contributed approximately HK$87.84 million to support 5 ADPs and 8 other projects in Zimbabwe, benefiting over 274,500 people.

2021 Work Highlights

Area Development Programmes (ADP)

World Vision Hong Kong supported 5 ADPs to improve the livelihoods of children and their families, and encouraged their active participation in the process of building a sustainable community.

Child Protection

  • Strengthened the capacity of about 140 trained child protection committees which reached out to over 13,550 children and protected them from abuse.
  • Reached over 33,060 adults and children with information campaigns on child rights and protection.

Education and Life Skills

  • Constructed 5 classroom blocks and supported schools with furniture and outdoor playing equipment, providing good learning environment for over 830 students.
  • Provided school supplies such as school bags and learning materials to support the education of more than 5,060 school-aged children during COVID-19 lockdown.
  • Supported 5 schools to sustain themselves with income-generating activities such as grinding mills, banana plantations, goat and chicken projects.

Livelihoods

  • Provided training on post-harvesting process for over 1,000 farmers.
  • Educated over 5,230 people from the community, schools and health facilities on the importance of disaster risk reduction and implemented mitigation strategies for adverse events.
  • Provided access to water for crop and livestock production for over 980 farmers.

WASH

  • Constructed 5 new flash system/water system ablution toilets, which are girl-friendly, disabled-friendly and environmentally-friendly, in schools, benefiting 5,270 students.
  • Provided access to handwashing facilities at education facilities for over 7,220 students and teachers.
  • Promoted hygiene behaviour change through activities such as training and campaigns, reaching more than 1,660 households.

Health

  • Provided hand-washing supplies, hygiene kits, cleaning kits and personal protective equipment for over 17,600 community members, and reached about 19,980 people with preventive behaviour messaging on COVID-19.
  • Enabled 1,820 students to enjoy nutritious food through the school feeding programme by establishing micro irrigation systems in school gardens.

Funding (HK$): $24,221,750; No. of Beneficiaries: 107,850

Education Project

  • Constructed 4 double classroom blocks in 2 secondary schools to provide a conducive learning environment for 320 students.
  • Distributed more than 1,360 textbooks so that students no longer have to share them.
  • Provided solar lamps for students and teachers to borrow for studies or work at night.

Funding (HK$): $914,300; No. of Beneficiaries: 3,970

Food Assistance Projects in partnership with the World Food Programme

  • Provided targeted food assistance and nutritional support to address immediate food consumption and nutrient needs of food insecure households.
  • Distributed preventive rations to young children and pregnant and lactating women during lean season to prevent malnutrition.
  • Improved food security and nutritional status of communities by providing enhanced income opportunities.

Funding (HK$): $62,700,550; No. of Beneficiaries: 162,690

Total Funding (HK$): 87,836,600; Total No. of Beneficiaries: 274,510



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