Ngoni Dapira

HOLIDAY Inn Mutare has extended a helping hand to Fairfield Children’s Home by donating groceries and pledged to repair their houses that are facing structural damage from termite’s infestation.

The groceries donation which includes basic foodstuff such as cooking oil, mealie meal, rice, sugar, salt, beef meat and other items such as bath soaps, laundry soaps and sanitary pads to mention a few, was officially handed over last week Saturday by Holiday Inn Mutare general manager Charlton Chimbira and staff members during a visit to the home.

Fairfield Children’s Home is located at Old Mutare Mission, now Hartzel Mission, a United Methodist church mission station outside Mutare. The children’s home has been operating since 1903 and was started as a student’s initiative to help a fellow student that had lost both parents and was in need of financial assistance to finish secondary school. From there they saw the need of helping other orphaned children in the community and that is how the centre came about through the assistance of various benefactors.

Holiday Inn Mutare general manager Charlton Chimbira (Left) and Holiday Inn Mutare human resources manager Obrein Godi following proceedings.

The children and ancillary staff also enjoyed a packed lunch treat from Holiday Inn which left them in great cheer. Speaking at the event, Chimbira said the groceries donation is their way of giving back to the community. He said this is being done through their ‘Giving for Good’ initiative which is their corporate social responsibility arm.

Holiday Inn Mutare is part of the InterContinental Hotels (IHG) Group of Hotels and Resorts, one of the world’s leading hoteliers. Chimbira said the month of September is their corporate social responsibility month where they give back to the community.

“Our corporate social responsibility activities span the entire year, but every September, we participate in Giving for Good throughout the month. As Holiday Inn Mutare we want life-saving results for our most vulnerable communities through on the ground action. We want to identify challenges in our immediate community and see them through to solve them and make a difference in our community. We want to see future leaders come from this centre and oneday say we helped play our part to better your life,” said Chimbira.

He added that they will continue reaching out to the centre not only through donations of groceries but will also consider scholarships for the most bright children at the centre to incentivize them.

Cecillia Mabvumbe

Fairfield Children’s Home administrator Cecillia Mabvumbe said their model is based on the family approach in group homes and the long term care of orphaned and abandoned children.

“At the moment we have 53 children and we are grateful when our local community helps us in raising these children because if people think of them more often it gives them a sense of belonging. When we were informed you are coming we have been looking forward to the visit. And today, here you are and you can see everyone is happy,” said Mabvumbe.

Adding, “The institution has a rich history where we have those who have been released finding employment. Some are also contributing to the welfare of those living here. At the moment we have learners in primary, secondary, college and university,” she said.

One of the Holiday Inn Mutare staff members Dorothy Tubulo-Liya singing and dancing with the children at the handover ceremony.

She said Fairfield Children’s Home comprises of eight family units with 10 family members in each unit. Each house has a loving and caring mother that takes care of the children. They are however currently using only four homes for the orphanage. The groceries donated will be divided among the four houses.

“We aim for our children to be healthy in all ways – physically, mentally and emotionally. Therefore, we try to provide all children with healthcare and education until they reach the age of 18 which is the mandatory age by the Department of Social Welfare, but in our case we extend to look out for them till the age of 23 when most would have completed college or university. We want to ensure that every child is loved and needed. We believe that this holistic approach allows the children to develop the capabilities they need to live a life of dignity, with respect, and to participate actively in their society,” said Mabvumbe.

Group photo of Holiday Inn staff and Fairfield Children’s home staff at the donation handover event.

She added that Fairfield was built on a solid Christian foundation which is why they always want to spread the love of God in all they do.

She said all the children at the centre come through the Department of Social Welfare. Mabvumbe encouraged community members to also support the centre through available programmes of foster care and adoption of children to integrate the children into a family setup.

Holiday Inn Mutare human resources manager Obrein Godi added that the experience of visiting the orphanage was enlightening and they intend to continue with such initiatives as an organization.

“We learnt a lot here and will definitely help spread the word about their programmes of foster care and adoption. We saw wonderful children here and we need to support them,” said Godi.