WHAT WE DO IN IMPOVERISHED COMMUNITIES
ZANE is pioneering a model for the redevelopment and regeneration of communities who are currently in crisis. As a result, lives are being transformed as people are enabled to become self-sufficient. Activities include:
- Primary health care/HIV-specific medical clinics
- Home visits and home-based care training
- Support groups and Education
- Nutritional supplementation and clinics
- Training in food production/nutrition
- Income generating projects
WHAT WE DO FOR PENSIONERS IN RETIREMENT HOMES
The targeted elderly people are those on local pensions, or in some cases, without pensions at all. They will have lived in Zimbabwe most or all of their lives and may well have been part of the war effort in World War ll. Their pensions and savings will have diminished to such an extent that they can no longer afford to live and many receive no (or very little) assistance from their relatives. Some in fact have been abandoned by relatives who have now moved country and have no more to do with them whatsoever.
There are many in these categories in the retirement homes.Because of the ravages of hyper-inflation the management personnel of the homes are facing an endless series of crises and many of them are now near to breaking point. They are unable to buy essential items such as bread, meat, eggs or milk and neither can they carry out essential repairs on their homes. Further, they cannot regularly buy petrol, diesel, lavatory paper, shampoo, soap, toothpaste or cleaning materials. ZANE is working with the homes to keep them open.
Although it is a very sobering experience to visit these places, these visits are also uplifting due to the home staff's spirit of determination in dire circumstances. The elderly themselves are proud and reluctant to talk of their problems.
More on ZANE'S work with retirement homes and pensioners >>
