An orphan is defined as a child, from day one to 18 years of age, with a single or both parents having died. The OVC program evolved alongside the home based care program when the terminally ill patients could no longer be able to look after their children. The continued rise of the HIV prevalence rate has also resulted in increased deaths of people suffering with AIDS and in many cases leaving children with a single or no parent. Consequently the number of orphaned children continues to rise and the orphan crisis has become the huge scale of the problem.

Kubatsirana is currently caring for 3,126 orphans integrated within the communities in Chimoio district. The orphans receive a variety of support including shelter, food, health care, education, protection, civic rights, vocational training, livelihood skills and spiritual support.

Of these 52 are sheltered in foster families in a program called “Give a Child a Home”. This model was adapted after an experiential study tour of Place of Restoration in South Africa by 10 members from Kubatsirana, including Pastors, Open Center coordinators and Home based Care promoters and sponsored by the Swedish Mission Alliance.

• OVC program has not been fully integrated in other districts where Kubatsirana operates due to funding limitations;
• Food insecurity especially for child-headed households;
• Low level of community support to maintain homes for orphaned children;
• In sufficient funding for vocational courses;
• Limited source of funding for micro credit for business entrepreneurship;
• Limited scholarships for exceptionally intelligent orphans to realize their dreams and become human resource capital;

• W K Kellogg Foundation
• Human Bridge (Erikshjalpen)