HARARE, ZIMBABWE — Caroline Mawoyo watches her 16-year-old daughter wash dishes outside their wooden cabin. The teenager should be donning a fresh uniform for her first year in secondary school. Instead, she faces an uncertain future.
This tale was initially released by Global Press Journal.
Mawoyo, who is 37 years old, received news on January 22 that the community care workers at Mavambo Orphan Care, an organization that previously ensured her daughter’s education, are now unable to cover the costs of schooling.
The news hit me like a ton of bricks. My feelings are beyond description," she states. "I completely relied on that assistance for my kids' welfare.
Mavambo Orphan Care supports both orphaned children and those at risk of falling into poverty and its consequences. However, the organization now faces severe challenges due to a sudden U.S. policy change that has halted almost all foreign assistance.
Throughout history, the US Agency for International Development has consistently allocated at least $4 billion per year globally towards programs benefiting children. Specifically, in 2024, Zimbabwe was granted over $12 million to support underprivileged children, such as orphans.
And since 2020, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief has funded a variety of services for nearly 400,000 vulnerable and orphaned children, including antiretroviral therapy for those with HIV/AIDS, and paying school fees.
On January 20th, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order halting almost all activities conducted by USAID—the primary American agency responsible for international humanitarian assistance—as well as those carried out by PEPFAR. Although critical life-saving services could theoretically proceed under a specific exemption known as a waiver, most operations ceased promptly following the issuance of this directive from Trump. This led to the termination of emergency food provisions for individuals facing starvation and halted healthcare support for patients suffering from diseases such as tuberculosis.
Similar to the situation with Mavambo Orphan Care, educational services for children who would not have been able to go to school otherwise were discontinued as well.
"It was challenging to deliver such information knowing that many individuals cannot afford the costs," states a community care provider, requesting anonymity out of concern for potential repercussions.
Efforts at the national level to support underprivileged children are indeed underway. The Basic Education Assistance Module aids more than 1.5 million children who either haven't started schooling or had to drop out because of financial difficulties. However, the Zimbabwean government also faces significant economic hurdles. According to Taungana Ndoro, the director of communication and advocacy for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, funds for this initiative are likewise being held up.
Murangariri, Mawoyo’s daughter, was out of school for four years until 2021, when Mavambo Orphan Care intervened to cover her tuition costs.
Now, Murangariri admits, she feels ashamed.
"When certain individuals inquire whether I am attending school, I tend to fib as I do not wish for them to view me with contempt," she explains.
For children affected by HIV, the circumstances are even grimmer. According to 2023 statistics from UNAIDS, over 480,000 children in Zimbabwe have been orphaned because of HIV.
Maggie Goromondo looks after her two grandchildren because their parents passed away. One of these children is living with HIV. The uncertainty around whether this child can continue receiving HIV treatment grows as even small school expenses become unaffordable.
I earn between two to three dollars each day as a seller, however, the total fees for my grandchildren amount to approximately 180 dollars," she explains. "How will I be able to come up with that?
Global Press stands out as an internationally acclaimed news outlet, boasting over 40 autonomous newsrooms across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. Syndigate.info ).
Post a Comment